Proverbs 24
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
(Pro. 24:1-34) (Compare Pro 23:3, Pro 23:17; Psa 37:1).
Open source ↗Be not thou envious against evil men,.... Or, "men of evil" (b). Such who are addicted to evil, and given up to it, whose principles and practices are bad; such as are before described in the preceding chapter; gluttons and drunkards, men given to women and wine: envy not their present prosperity, or seeming pleasure they have in the gratification of their sensual appetites; since woe and sorrow, wounds and strife, now attend them, and poverty and want will follow them; as well as everlasting ruin and destruction will be their portion hereafter; See Gill on Pro 23:17; and compare with this Pro 24:21; neither desire to be with them; to be in their company; to have any conversation and fellowship with them, which is very infectious, dangerous, and pernicious; nor even to be in the same state, condition, and circumstances they are in; much less to do as they do, and imitate them in their sinful courses; as you would not choose to be with them in hell hereafter, do not desire to be with them here. (b) "viros mali", Baynus, Michaelis.
Open source ↗After this divergence (in Pro 23:29-35) from the usual form of the proverb, there is now a return to the tetrastich: 1 Envy not evil men, And desire not to have intercourse with them. 2 For their heart thinketh of violence, And their lips speak mischief. The warning, not to envy the godless, is also found at Pro 3:31; Pro 23:17; Pro 24:19, but is differently constructed in each of these passages. Regarding תּתאו with Pathach, vid., at Pro 23:3. אנשׁי רעה (cf. רע, Pro 28:5) are the wicked, i.e., such as cleave to evil, and to whom evil clings. The warning is grounded in this, that whoever have intercourse with such men, make themselves partners in greater sins and evil: for their heart broodeth (write כּי שׁד, Munach Dech) violence, i.e., robbery, plunder, destruction, murder, and the like. With שׁד (in the Mishle only here and at Pro 21:7, cf. שׁדּד, Pro 19:26) connects itself elsewhere חמס, here (cf. Hab 1:3) עמל, labor, molestia, viz., those who prepare it for others by means of slanderous, crafty, uncharitable talk.
Open source ↗Here, 1. The caution given is much the same with that which we had before (Pro 23:17), not to envy sinners, not to think them happy, nor to whish ourselves in their condition, though they prosper ever so much in this world, and are ever so marry and ever so secure. "Let not such a thought ever come into thy mind, O that I could shake off the restraints of religion and conscience, and take as great a liberty to indulge the sensual appetite, as I see such and such do! No; desire not to be with them, to do as they do and fare as they fare, and to cast in thy lot among them." 2. Here is another reason given for this caution: "Be not envious against them, not only because their end will be had, but because their way is so, Pro 24:2. Do not think with them, for their heart studies destruction to others, but it will prove destruction to themselves. Do not speak like them, for their lips talk of their mischief. All they say has an ill tendency, to dishonour God, reproach religion, or wrong their neighbour; but it will be mischief to themselves at last. It is therefore thy wisdom to have nothing to do with them. Nor hast thou any reason to look upon them with envy, but with pity rather, or a just indignation at their wicked practices."
Open source ↗24:1-2 Saying 19: See 1:8-19.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
קָנָא (qânâʼ, H7065) — to be (causatively, make) zealous, i.e. (in a bad sense) jealous or envious רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) אָוָה (ʼâvâh, H183) — to wish for
Open source ↗לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… הָגָה (hâgâh, H1897) — to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder שֹׁד (shôd, H7701) — violence, ravage שָׂפָה (sâphâh, H8193) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… עָמָל (ʻâmâl, H5999) — toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
Open source ↗חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) תָּבוּן (tâbûwn, H8394) — intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a…
Open source ↗דַּעַת (daʻath, H1847) — knowledge חֶדֶר (cheder, H2315) — an apartment (usually literal) מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) יָקָר (yâqâr, H3368) — valuable (objectively or subjectively) נָעִים (nâʻîym, H5273) — delightful (objective or subjective, literal or figurative) הוֹן (hôwn, H1952) — wealth; by implication, enough
Open source ↗חָכָם (châkâm, H2450) — wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful) גֶּבֶר (geber, H1397) — properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply עֹז (ʻôz, H5797) — strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… דַּעַת (daʻath, H1847) — knowledge אָמַץ (ʼâmats, H553) — to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage) כֹּחַ (kôach, H3581) — vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means,…
Open source ↗תַּחְבֻּלָה (tachbulâh, H8458) — (only in plural) properly, steerage (as a management of ropes), i.e. (figuratively)… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) רֹב (rôb, H7230) — abundance (in any respect) יָעַץ (yâʻats, H3289) — to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve תְּשׁוּעָה (tᵉshûwʻâh, H8668) — rescue (literal or figurative, persons, national or spiritual)
Open source ↗חׇכְמוֹת (chokmôwth, H2454) — wisdom רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) אֱוִיל (ʼĕvîyl, H191) — (figuratively) silly פָּתַח (pâthach, H6605) — to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate
Open source ↗חָשַׁב (châshab, H2803) — properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to… רָעַע (râʻaʻ, H7489) — properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good… קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… מְזִמָּה (mᵉzimmâh, H4209) — a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity) בַּעַל (baʻal, H1167) — a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in…
Open source ↗זִמָּה (zimmâh, H2154) — a plan, especially a bad one אִוֶּלֶת (ʼivveleth, H200) — silliness חַטָּאָה (chaṭṭâʼâh, H2403) — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or… לוּץ (lûwts, H3887) — properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign… תּוֹעֵבַה (tôwʻêbah, H8441) — properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
Open source ↗רָפָה (râphâh, H7503) — to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative) יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival: כֹּחַ (kôach, H3581) — vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means,… צַר (tsar, H6862) — narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ;…
Open source ↗חָשַׂךְ (châsak, H2820) — to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe נָצַל (nâtsal, H5337) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);… מוֹט (môwṭ, H4131) — to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall הֶרֶג (hereg, H2027) — slaughter
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… תָּכַן (tâkan, H8505) — to balance, i.e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively, arrange, equalize,… לִבָּה (libbâh, H3826) — the heart בִּין (bîyn, H995) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand נָצַר (nâtsar, H5341) — to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal,… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) פֹּעַל (pôʻal, H6467) — an act or work (concretely)
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) דְּבַשׁ (dᵉbash, H1706) — honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… נֹפֶת (nôpheth, H5317) — a dripping i.e. of honey (from the comb) מָתוֹק (mâthôwq, H4966) — sweet חֵךְ (chêk, H2441) — properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the organ of…
Open source ↗יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… יֵשׁ (yêsh, H3426) — there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection) אַחֲרִית (ʼachărîyth, H319) — the last or end, hence, the future; also posterity תִּקְוָה (tiqvâh, H8615) — literally a cord (as an attachment); figuratively, expectancy כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed,
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.