Mishle 8:5

5 O ye simple ones, understand armah (prudence); and, ye kesilim, understand in your lev.

Mishle 8:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 8:5

O ye simple, understand wisdom
The Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, particularly the doctrine of salvation by Christ; it is the highest wisdom to know Christ and him crucified: and they are "the simple" who are weak and easy to be imposed upon, who are here called unto; and generally speaking such are they to whom the mysteries of grace are made known, while they are hid from the wise and prudent;

and ye fools, be of an understanding heart;
or "cause the heart to understand"; or "get an understanding heart" ^F20; make use of all means to get spiritual wisdom and understanding; all men, let them be what they will in other respects, are fools as to a spiritual and experimental knowledge of divine things; and that man can only be said to have truly an understanding heart that knows his own folly, the plague of his heart, his need of Christ, the worth of him; and has an understanding given him to know him and his interest in him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (bl wnybh) "facite cor intelligere", Baynus, Mercerus; "facite ut cor vestrum intelligat", so some in Vatablus; "acquirite animum sapientem", Gejerus.

Mishle 8:5 In-Context

3 She crieth out at the she’arim (gates), at the entry of the city, at the entrance at the petachim (doorways):

4 Unto you, O ishim, I call out; and my voice is to the Bnei Adam.

5 O ye simple ones, understand armah (prudence); and, ye kesilim, understand in your lev.

6 Hear; for I will speak negidim (noble things, worthy [words]); and the opening of my sfatayim (lips) shall be meisharim (upright, fair things).

7 For my mouth shall speak emes; and resha is an abomination to my sfatayim (lips).