Author: Stephen Ricker

A nation and a king are the subjects of these two proverbs. A nation is basically a group of people existing under the same rule whether one person or a group of people. “Nation” in Hebrew is “goy” which can also be translated as “gentiles, heathens, and peoples”. “King” in Hebrew is “melek”. Therefore, the […]

Everyone has access to wisdom, but only among the discerning it rests (reposes) claims this proverb. The discerning is the person that considers wisdom and harbors it in their heart. Rests in the heart is “leb bin” in Hebrew implying our soul vault. The proverb implies that wisdom can rest in the heart of the […]

Death is not the end of existence. “… even in death, the righteous have a refuge.” David, Solomon’s father often referred to the Lord God as his refuge. He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn […]

The way I deal with those who do not have as much as me reflects my relationship with God. All that exists is God’s. All that I have was obtained and is maintained by God. “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised,” quoting Job who […]

A heart at peace is contrasted with envy. As a noun envy is a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or status. As a verb envy is a desire to have a quality, possession, or another attribute belonging to someone else. Envy is never satisfied. Envy always wrongfully believes more will bring peace. Envy wrongfully believes […]

Patience is an active endurance of opposition, not a passive resignation. (Romans 12:12) Patience and patient are used to translate several Hebrew and Greek words. Patience is endurance, steadfastness, longsuffering, and forbearance. Patience is one of the characteristics of God. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is […]

Since a large population is a king’s glory, then Jesus’ glory far exceeds all kingdom’s ever to exist. Jesus told a parable about his kingdom’s size. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet […]

The fear of the Lord is again eulogized; claiming it is a secure fortress, a refuge, and a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. The word picture establishes that fear of the Lord is a powerful and undefeatable defender who aids in the time of need. The enemy is death, […]

The truthful witness and the false witness are the subjects of today’s proverb. A truthful witness gives honest testimony, (12:17) does not deceive (5), and saves lives (25). A false witness tells lies (5, 12:17) and is deceitful (25). I am called to be a witness for I am told, “This is what the LORD […]

The wealth of the wise is not merely monetary wealth. While it is true that financial wealth is a blessing of the Lord (10:22) and a gift from God, not a product of human attainment; the wealth that is a crown is not solely money. The wealth of the wise that is their crown is […]

Why does work have to be hard? Work doesn’t need to be hard. However, if I want to bring a profit I need to work hard. This proverb is amazing in that it says that ALL hard work brings a profit. This includes ministry too. I have worked very hard and very long on FreeBibleStudyHelp.com […]

The plans I make show what is in my heart and what will happen to me in the future. If I plot evil I will go astray (22, 5:22-23, 12:26). If I plan what is good I will find love and faithfulness (22, 20:28). 3:3-4 states the reciprocal, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; […]

Despising someone is disrespecting them which is a sin. Blessing someone is to allow both the giver and the receiver to experience happiness. Blessed is the person that is kind to the needy. How can I be kind? 22:9 declares, “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” […]

Every generation in every society that has existed since Adam and Eve sinned and were driven out of the Garden of Eden not only knows the truth of this proverb, but we also live the truth of this proverb. “The poor are shunned (and hated) even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.” […]

The proverb in verse 19 is looking towards the future. The evil and the wicked are the same types of people as the good and the righteous are the same types of people. The proverb implies that the opposite is true in the present. Though the future will have the evil and the wicked submitting […]

A crown and being crowned are mentioned many times in Solomon’s proverbs. Wisdom is said to present a crown of splendor (4:9). God crowns the head of the righteous with blessings (12:4). The wealth of the wise is their crown (12:24). And here “the prudent are crowned with knowledge”. A crown in ancient society was […]

Surprising is the fact that this easy-to-accept and understand proverb is not a comparative proverb as is so many in the book of Proverbs. Another surprising fact is that it defines the character traits of both a quick-tempered man and a crafty man. Could King Solomon have a specific person in mind when he wrote […]

Jesus had his own way of saying, “… a prudent man gives thought to his steps.” He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15, 13;43; Luke 8:8) Saying, “A simple man believes anything…” is not meant to be a retort to others. Rather, I can take it as God’s challenge […]

God has a lot to say about having faith in him. “Without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) “For it is by grace you have been saved; through faith – and this […]

As verse 10 declares that “each heart knows its own bitterness and no one else can share its joy” so verse 13 echoes and builds the thought, “even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” I may be able to disguise and hide my true emotion from others, but God […]

“There is a way that seems right…” is an open-ended statement in that the way that seems right is undefined. Surely these ways are in full view of the Lord that leads to death as is stated concerning the wicked’s evil deeds in chapter 5:21-23. Still, why did the Lord through Solomon make this an […]

The proverb here is a prophecy for “will be destroyed” and “will flourish” are future tense. Just when will the prophecy be fulfilled? One clue is the nature of the dwelling for the wicked and for the upright. The wicked’s dwelling is a house in all English translations. The upright’s dwelling is a tent in […]

The true core mood of a person’s heart is known only by the owner and God (1 Chronicles 28:9). Whether bitter or joyful, happy or sad, fearful or brave, puzzled or enlightened the heart’s presence is thine heart alone. The heart, “leb” in Hebrew (a transliteration) is used to describe the seat of one’s feelings […]

Sin is an inherent condition of everyone born (except Christ) (Romans 3:23), a condition that we own but cannot sell or give away. It is just there affecting every aspect of human existence in a bad way like rot in an orange, an apple, and a pomegranate. God hates sin, is not affected by sin, […]

Prudent in the original Hebrew portrays a person who is cunning and crafty as is further defined in BDBD for Proverb 12:23. There I learn that the cunning stores and covers the knowledge of Jesus, his words, and his kingdom in their soul’s vault (also 10:14; Matthew 13:45-46). The proverb in 14:8 tells me that […]

This proverb gives a reason for staying away from a foolish person; his words are not knowledge. Stay around them long enough and I will be a talking fool too. The Bible has much to say about the company that I should and shouldn’t keep. The key to keeping this wisdom is to know who […]

A mocker is a person who is excessively proud and arrogant (21:24). They are bullies full of insults, hatred, and strife (9:7-8, 22:10, 29:8). They resist correction (13:1, 15:12) even though they deserve flogging (19:25, 21:11). Unlike the humble and discerning they do not fear the Lord though they harbor and react to vague fears. […]

Facts about a truthful witness and a false witness are elsewhere in Proverbs (6:19, 12:17, 25:18). So being a truthful witness is important to God. A truthful witness does not deceive. Jesus called his followers to be his witnesses. He meant that in everything he taught and did his followers were to say and do […]

The meaning behind this proverb is more than the powerful beast of burden the farmer uses to plow his field. The Lord God is concerned about the field of humans that can be changed to produce much wonderful fruit. (Matthew 3:23) The reason we don’t produce fruit is that our souls are in need of […]