Proverbs 29:23

Pro 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Ver. 23. A man’s pride shall bring him low.] For it sets God against him, and angels, and men, not good men only, but bad men too, and those that are as proud as themselves. For whereas one drunkard loves another and one thief another, &c., one proud person cannot endure another, but seeks to undermine him, that he alone may bear the bell, carry the commendation, the praise and promotion. See Pro 11:12; Pro 15:33; Pro 18:12.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro_29:23

A mans pride shall bring him low.

On pride

Pride, though it implies an assumption of superiority, has a manifest tendency to degradation.

1. A mans pride will bring him low because it subjects him to the imputation of folly. There is no condition of life that can warrant the indulgence of this sinful and corrupt passion. The maxims of human policy teach us that in proportion to the trust must be the responsibility. The uncertainty and imperfection of every blessing which this world affords should alone be sufficient to prevent that silly exaltation of the mind which constitutes pride. Neither abundance of riches nor superior endowments of the mind are a sufficient justification for pride. Neither the acquisition of fame, the flatteries of self-love, nor the consciousness of distinguished merit, should swell the heart with arrogance or pride. The truest characteristics of superior greatness and superior wisdom are modesty and humility; modesty freed from false shame, and humility without affectation or abasement. If these motives are insufficient to warrant the indulgence of pride, much less ought it to arise from the casual distinction of rank in the different orders of men. Pride is not confined to any particular rank or station. From whatever cause it proceeds, it always betokens weakness, folly, and corruption.

2. The various evils, and the general depravity which it produces. The text is often verified as pride produces poverty. More persons have sunk into poverty from this cause than from any other. From indulging in a thousand idle expenses, in order to support a kind of pompous vanity, the proud man can seldom spare a charitable mite to give to him that needeth. Pride is also the source of continual mortification. The petty vexations of pride that are compounded with every vain, selfish, and malignant passion have no claim to our indulgence. Pride is more productive of quarrels, bitterness, and strife than anything else. This base and selfish passion always creates, and always keeps alive, a watchful and incessant jealousy of power. Hence the mildest exhortation and the most friendly remonstrance is often converted into the bitterness of accusation or the insolence of reproach. This odious vice is seen at its worst in the awful end of the suicide. The dreadful act of self-destruction is often committed in the evil moment of wounded pride or mortified ambition. The proud man sits on an imaginary eminence of his own creation, and propagates servility or wretchedness all around him. In a mind thus bewildered and deceived the first principle of improvement is wanting. He who is not conscious of any defect can have no sufficient motive for amendment. Pride never appears so sinful and offensive as when we consider man in relation to his Maker. Then we perceive it destroying the efficacy and poisoning the very source of all those virtues which he is chiefly bound to practise. The proud man is in reality always degraded in proportion as he thinks himself exalted. (J. Hewlett, B.D.)

Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Honour

This word means nobleness of mind. It is a natural instinct of human nature to be trustful, especially when a mans honour is at stake; but there has been so much deception as to make almost everybody doubt everybody else. Every representation we make should be the truth; a deception is never excusable.

1. Honour is an acquired nature. The germ of honour is born in us, but every child has to be taught by example and precept to cultivate it. We sometimes cram our children too much with catechism, and omit to cultivate their honour. There is as much religion in being honourable as in being prayerful.

2. Honour should become an essential part of our nature. It is only the ignorant and the foolish who can be tickled by a title or a name. Let us seek to have honour in our nature. Honour should grow in us and become an essential part of our nature. Uncommon honour should be the common practice of everybody.

3. Honour should be the principle of all our transactions. Whether you gain by it or not, be honourable. Let your honour be as true in the dark as in the light.

4. In honour prefer one another. Do not gibe at a friend or detract from an enemy. If you can praise one another, do so, but never throw mud at anybody. If you really know that a man or woman is doing wrong, be honourable enough to tell them so, and not so mean as to talk of it behind their backs. Be honourable in all your sayings and in all your doings, so that this world, through you, may become a more joyous dwelling-place. (W. Birch.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro 29:23. A man’s pride shall bring him low — Because both God and men conspire against him; but honour shall uphold the humble — Or, as others render it, without any difference in the sense, the humble in spirit shall hold their honour, shall be honoured by God and men. Thus honour, like a shadow, flees from them that pursue it, and follows them who flee from it.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro 29:23 passes from anger to haughtiness:

A man's pride will bring him low;

But the lowly attaineth to honour.

Thus we translate תּתמך כּבוד (Lat. honorem obtinet) in accord with Pro 11:16, and שׁפל־רוּח with Pro 16:19, where, however, שׁפל is not adj. as here, but inf. The haughty man obscures the honour which he has by this, that he boasts immeasurably of it, and aspires yet more after it; the lowly man, on the other hand, obtains honour without his seeking it, honour before God and before men, which would be of no worth were it not connected with the honour before God. The lxx: τοὺς δὲ ταπεινόφρονας ἐπείδει δόξῃ κύριους. This κύριους is indeed not contrary to the sense, but it is opposed to the style. Why the 24th verse should now follow is, as regards the contents and the expression, hard to say; but one observes that Pro 29:22-27 follow each other, beginning with the successive letters of the alphabet א (ב), ג, ח, ח, ר, ת (ת).

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

29:23 See 6:17-18; 11:2; 13:10; 15:33; 16:18-19; 18:12; 19:20; 22:4.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Job 22:29

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

This agrees with what Christ said more than once, 1. That those who exalt themselves shall be abased. Those that think to gain respect by lifting up themselves above their rank, by looking high, talking big, appearing fine, and applauding themselves, will on the contrary expose themselves to contempt, lose their reputation, and provoke God by humbling providences to bring them down and lay them low. 2. That those who humble themselves shall be exalted, and shall be established in their dignity: Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit; their humility is their honour, and that shall make them truly and safely great, and recommend them to the esteem of all that are wise and good.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(Compare Pro 16:18; Pro 18:12).

honour . . . spirit--or, "such shall lay hold on honor" (Pro 11:16).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 23. A man's pride shall bring him low] A proud man is universally despised, and such are often exposed to great mortifications.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(23) Honour shall uphold the lowly in spirit.—Rather, the lowly in spirit shall lay hold upon honour. (Comp. Pro_18:12.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

23. honour shall uphold, &c.] Rather, He that is lowly in spirit shall obtain honour. Lowly is better than humble (A.V.) in the second clause, because the Heb. word is from the same root as the word bring low, in the first clause.

It is substantially the same proverb as that used more than once by our Lord:

Every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled;

And he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luk_14:11; Luk_18:14.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A man's pride shall bring him low,.... As the pride of Adam, in affecting to be as gods, knowing good and evil; he lost the image of God; was brought into a state of darkness and ignorance, into debt and to a dunghill, to beggary and rags; filled with loathsome diseases, and left in thraldom and bondage to sin and Satan; and so all his posterity were brought into the same low estate. This might be exemplified in particular persons, in Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, and others; and, as will be in that monster of pride, the man of sin and antichrist; who will be humbled and brought low in the midst of his pride and boasting, Rev 18:7;

but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit; not who are humble in appearance only, or merely in words, having a show of humility, a voluntary and affected one; but really in their hearts; whose spirits are humble and contrite; who are so in spiritual things, and are made so by the Spirit of God: they are such who are truly sensible of sin; of their folly, and want of spiritual knowledge; of their impotence, and weakness to do anything that is spiritually good; of their spiritual poverty, and want of righteousness; who see that salvation is all of grace; and that whatever they have is owing to the grace of God; that they are deficient in all their duties, and these insufficient to justify them before God; who submit to the righteousness of Christ, and give all the glory of salvation to the grace of God. These, as they are honourable, being clothed with humility, which is itself an ornament of great price; so they are honoured with more grace from the Lord; they are beautified with the garments of salvation; they have the honour to have the spiritual and gracious presence of God, and fellowship with him, who dwells with such as are of an humble spirit: these are the meek and lowly, that shall inherit the new earth, and reign as kings with Christ in it; and the poor in spirit, to whom the kingdom of heaven belongs: and this honour is durable, they shall always abide in it; the grace they have, which makes them glorious, springs up unto eternal life; and the glory they shall have is an eternal weight of glory, a crown of glory that fadeth not away: for so the words may be rendered, "the humble in spirit shall lay hold on glory" (z) or "honour"; possess it and enjoy it: or rather "shall retain" (a) it; shall hold it fast, as the word is translated in Pro 3:18; The sum of the proverb, in both parts, is the same with the words of Christ, often used by him, Mat 23:12.

(z) "assequetur gloriam", Montanus; "potietur gloria", Vatablus. (a) "Tenebit honorem", Piscator; "tenebit gloriam", Mercerus, Cocceius, Michaelis; "apprehendit gloriam", Shultens.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit - Better: The lowly in spirit shall lay hold on honor.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Shall bring him low, because both God and man conspire against him, and abhor him.

Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit; or, as others render it, without any difference in the sense,

the humble in spirit shall hold their honour, shall be honoured by God and men. Thus honour, like a shadow, flees from them that pursue it, and follows them who flee from it.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

23. Pride shall bring… low — See Pro_16:19; Pro_25:6. Honour shall uphold — The humble takes hold on, or retains, honour. So most commentators.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A man"s pride shall bring him low. The same thought is found in Pro_15:33 Pro_16:18 Pro_25:6, etc.; Luk_14:11. Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit; better, as the Revised Version, he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honour. (comp. Pro_11:16 Isa_57:15) The humble man does not seek honour, but by his life and action unconsciously attains it. (comp. Job_22:29) Septuagint, "Haughtiness brings a man low, but the lowly-minded the Lord upholdeth with glory.

See homily on Pro_16:18. C.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

This Proverb — Bishop Hall remarks in his own style — ’is like unto Shushan: in the streets whereof honor is proclaimed to the humble Mordecai; in the palace whereof is erected an engine of death to a proud Haman.’†1 It exhibits the spirit of our Lord’s oft-repeated declaration expounded by his daily Providences — "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."†2 The real value of man in himself is so small, that the Psalmist is at a loss where to find it.†3 His undue value of himself is utter delusion; having lost all; stripped of all; yet proud, as if he were the possessor of all. He raises himself to heaven in his airy visions; but soon does he meet with his own punishment — A man’s pride shall bring him low.†4 We see this in the world. The proud conceit of rank, talent, or any superiority, subjects to continual mortification;†5 while on the other hand, humility, at first considered a mean and servile spirit, ultimately comes to its just estimation.

The world counts nothing great without display. But mark the substantial "honor that cometh from God only." "Heaven is my throne; and earth is my footstool; yet to this man will I look — to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit." (Isa 66:1-2 .) Yea — "I dwell — saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity — with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit." (Isa 57:15 .) Humility is indeed true greatness — ’the crown’ — as Mr. Howels finely remarks — ’of finite beings, made and jewelled by the hand of God himself. Supremacy is the glory of God; humility is the ornament of his child.’†6 "I am but dust and ashes. I am less than the least of all thy mercies. I abhor myself. Sinners — of whom I am chief"†7 — such are the self-abasing confessions of men great in Jehovah’s eyes. They shine with the reflection of his glory; but they turn away with genuine humility from their own shining.

Men of this stamp "the king delighteth to honor." Their dignity begins on earth, and is crowned in heaven. "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 5:3 ; Mat 18:4 .) Poor they may be in station. But they shine forth as mightier conquerors than Alexander. Their real glory eclipses the glare of the pomp and "pride of life."

The elevation of the proud is often the step to their downfall. But God’s honor, put upon his own people, upholds them, as Joseph and Daniel, in their high eminence, as witnesses for his name. Meetness for heaven is that adorning clothing of humility, which leads us to ascribe all our grace to God, and all our sin to ourselves. This is the prostrate adoration of heaven. (Rev 5:9-12 .) The Lord imbue us richly with this spirit.

Indeed all chastening discipline is for the great purpose, to "hide pride from man" (Job 33:17 ), and to bring us low in our own eyes, that his honor may "lift us in due time."†8 It is with us as with our Lord — honor comes out of humiliation.†9 ’Thou meanest to be not our Savior only, but our pattern too. If we can go down the steps of thine humiliation, we shall rise up the stairs of thy glory.’†10

Footnotes:

†1 Sermon on Text. Works. v. 270.

†2 Mat 23:12. Luk 14:11 ; Luk 18:14 . The speech of Artabanus to Xerxes before his invasion of Greece, is a striking testimony from an Heathen. ’God delights to depress whatever is too highly exalted. Thus a large army is often defeated by a small one. When God in his jealousy throws them into a panic, or thunders against them, they miserably perish. For God suffers no mortal to think magnificently.’ - Herodotus, Book 7. c. 10.

†3 Psa 8:3-4; Psa 144:3 ; Psa 39:5 .

†4 Job 40:12. Psa 18:27 . Compare Zep 2:15 . Rev 18:7-8, and references on Pro 16:18-19 .

†5 1Ki 21:1-4 . Est 5:13 .

†6 Sermons, i. pp. 335, 336.

†7 Gen 18:27; Gen 32:10 . Job 42:6 . 1Ti 1:15 .

†8 1Pe 5:6 . Job 22:29 .

†9 Pro 15:33; Pro 18:12 .

†10 Bp. Hall ut supra.

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

one who has a humble spirit will be given honor

This can be translated in active form. AT: "men will give honor to a person who has a humble spirit" or "a person who has a humble spirit will receive honor from men" or "Yahweh will cause men to honor a person who has a humble spirit" (See: Active or Passive)

hates his own life

"becomes his own enemy"

he hears the curse and says nothing

Possible meanings are 1) people have put the "one who shares with a thief" under oath to tell the truth about what he knows about what the thief stole, and he knows he will be punished if he tells the truth. AT: "he does not dare to testify under oath" or 2) people do not know who the thief is but they call on God to curse the thief, and the "one who shares" is afraid to confess and so come out from under the curse because he is afraid of the thief. AT: "he says nothing even after people have cursed him" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

translationWords

proud

humble

spirit

honor

thief

curse

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

will grasp honor Heb. יתמך, will come near the honor and constantly grasp it.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.