Proverbs 19:2

2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries 1his footsteps errs.

Proverbs 19:2 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:2

Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good,
&c.] Without knowledge of things natural and civil, especially without the knowledge of God and Christ, and divine and spiritual things; to be without this is not good, yea, very bad; for men without such knowledge and understanding are, like the beasts that perish, and for lack of it do. Jarchi interprets it, without the law. Or, "to be without the knowledge of the soul is not good" F5; so the Targum, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions,

``he that knoweth not his soul, it is not good for him;''
that does not know he has a soul, or however takes no more care of it than if he had none; who knows not the worth and value of it, its state and condition, and the danger it is in, and the only way of attaining the salvation of it; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth;
who engages in anything ignorantly and rashly, he misses the mark, and fails in the performance of it, for want of due consideration and care. The Targum is,
``he that is swift with his feet to evil is a sinner;''
whose feet run to evil, to commit robbery, as Aben Ezra; or to shed blood; see ( Proverbs 1:16 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

F5 So Vatablus; or "without care of it", Schultcns.

Proverbs 19:2 In-Context

1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs.
3 The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the LORD .
4 Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 28:20; Proverbs 29:20

Footnotes 2

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