Proverbs 7:3

Pro 7:3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

Ver. 3. Bind them upon thy fingers.] That thou mayest have them always in sight, as God hath his people: "Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands: thy walls are continually before me." {Isa 49:16} The Hebrews here refer fingers to action, heart to meditation and retention. Men should have the law of God at their fingers ends. Any of us Jews, saith Josephus, being asked of any point of the law, answereth it as readily as if he had been asked his own name: they should also be "doers of the word, and not hearers only." The hand is οργανον οργανων {a} the instrument of action. David "lifted up both his hands to the word," {Psa 119:48} as if he would pull it to him with both hands, as if he would do the deed in good earnest. The "heavens are the work of God’s fingers"; {Psa 8:3} the law should be of ours.

{a} Aristotle.

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.

7:3 The Old Testament uses the phrase tie . . . on your fingers as a reminder for something that needs to be remembered, most notably God’s commands (Deut 6:8; 11:18). • The NLT’s write them deep within your heart reflects the Hebrew idiom write them on the tablet of your heart (see also Prov 3:3). Only obedience that comes from the heart will last.

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

Bind . . . fingers--as inscriptions on rings.

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 3. Bind them upon thy fingers] See on Pr 3:3.

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

VII.

(m). Thirteenth Discourse:—Also Against Adultery (Proverbs 7).

(3) Bind them upon thy fingers.—See above on Pro_3:3. The thong of the phylactery or fillet for the left arm was wound seven times round it, and as many times round the middle finger.

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

3. upon thy fingers] like some precious, engraved ring, at once an ornament and a memento.

The reference to the phylactery “placed at the bend of the left arm,” the thong of which “was wound about the arm in a spiral line, which ended at the top of the middle finger” (Smith’s Dict. of Bible, Frontlets) is less probable; though the Pharisee might no doubt read into such a passage as this a sanction of his broad phylactery.

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.

Bind them upon thy fingers,.... Let the above words and doctrines be as ready and familiar as if they were at the fingers' ends; or let them be always fresh in memory, as a piece of thread is tied about the fingers, to put in mind of anything to be done; or let them be as rings upon the fingers, both memorial and ornamental: or put into practice the things taught and commanded; the fingers being the instruments of action, and especially of doing things nicely and accurately;

write them upon the table of thine heart; that they may be strong in the memory, deep in the affection, and abiding in the understanding and will; see Pro 3:3.

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

Bind them upon thy fingers; as a ring which is put upon them, and is continually in a man’s eye. Constantly remember them, and meditate upon them.

Write them upon the table of thine heart; fix them in thy mind and affection. See Poole "Pro 3:3".

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

3. Bind them upon thy fingers — Supposed to refer to rings with large signets, containing inscriptions of important maxims. Comp. Pro_3:3; Son_8:6. In later days these were written upon phylacteries, or borders of the garments. Comp. Exo_13:9; Exo_13:16; Deu_6:8; Deu_11:18; Jer_22:24; Hag_2:23.

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

Bind them upon thy fingers. Wear my precepts like a ring on thy finger, so that they may go with thee, whatever thou takest in hand. Others think that the so called tephillin, or phylacteries, are meant. These were worn both on the hand and the forehead, and consisted of a leather box containing strips of parchment, on which were written four texts, viz. (see Exo_13:1-10 11-16 Deu_6:4-9 Deu_11:13-21) The box was attached to a leather strap wound seven times round the arm three times round the middle finger, and the remainder passed round the hand. (Exo_13:9, 16 Jer_22:24) Write them upon the table of thine heart. (see on Pro_3:3 Pro_6:21; and comp. Deu_6:9)

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

Bind them - As a ring which is continually in a man's eye.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.