Proverbs 19:6

6 Many men honour the person of a mighty man; and they be friends of him that dealeth (out) gifts.

Proverbs 19:6 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:6

Many will entreat the favour of the prince
Or of the liberal and bountiful man; as kings and princes generally are, ( Luke 22:25 ) ; such have many to wait upon them, and are humble petitioners to them. Aben Ezra and Gersom interpret the many of great and honourable men, who are courtiers to kings and princes; who wait upon them, ask favours of them, and seek for places under them. The Targum is,

``there are many that minister before a prince;''
he has many servants, and some of them nobles; and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts;
or "to a man of gift" F11: who has it in his power to give, and has a heart to it; who is both a rich man and a liberal man; who is both able and willing to communicate to the necessities of others: such a man not only has the poor his friends, but others will speak well of him, and will make application to him on account of the poor; and, for the sake of doing good to them, will court his friendship and acquaintance. Bayne interprets this "man of gift" of Christ, who ascended on high, and received gifts for men, and gives them to men.
FOOTNOTES:

F11 (Ntm vyal) "viro doni", Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis.

Proverbs 19:6 In-Context

4 Riches increase full many friends; forsooth also they be departed from a poor man, which he had (but the friends which a poor person had, shall soon depart).
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh leasings, shall not escape. (A lying witness shall not go unpunished; and he who speaketh lies, shall not escape.)
6 Many men honour the person of a mighty man; and they be friends of him that dealeth (out) gifts.
7 The brethren of a poor man hate him; furthermore and the friends went away far from him. He that followeth words only, shall have nothing; (The brothers of a poor man hate him; and furthermore his friends shall go far away from him. He who followeth after only words, shall soon have nothing;)
8 but he that holdeth stably the mind, loveth his soul, and the keeper of prudence shall find goods. (but he who keepeth his mind stable, loveth, or helpeth, his own life, and the keeper of understanding, or of discernment, shall obtain good things.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.