Proverbs 30:22

22 by a servant, when he reigneth; by a fool, when he is filled with meat (by a fool, when he is filled full with food);

Proverbs 30:22 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 30:22

For a servant, when he reigneth
Being unfit for it through his education, not having been trained up in and learned the arts of government and maxims of it; and through the disposition of his mind, which is mean, abject, and servile; and as he has been used himself when a servant, so he will use others ^F3 and through his circumstances, being poor, he will take oppressive methods to become rich; and being raised from a low estate, he is the more imperious, proud, and haughty ^F4; all which and more make his reign intolerable; see ( Proverbs 19:10 ) ( 28:3 ) . This may be applied to antichrist, the "servus servorum", who in a haughty, tyrannical, and insolent manner, exalts himself above all that is called God: and reigns over the kings of the earth, at least has done so, and that in such a manner as was unbearable; deposing kings at pleasure, disposing of their kingdoms, and trampling upon their necks, and making their subjects his vassals; see ( 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ) ( Revelation 17:12 Revelation 17:13 Revelation 17:17 Revelation 17:18 ) ; and a fool, when he is filled with meat;
as Nabal at his feast, when he behaved so intolerably in his cups towards David and his messengers, that he determined on his destruction, had not Abigail interposed, ( 1 Samuel 25:10 1 Samuel 25:11 1 Samuel 25:36 ) ; and there are many such fools, who having their bellies full of food, and their heads full of liquor, are very overbearing in company, and give their tongues such a loose as is very disturbing: or this may intend such fools, or wicked men, who are full of wealth and riches, and being purse proud, are exceeding haughty and insolent; set their mouths against the heaven, and blaspheme God that is in it; and their tongues walk through the earth, and spare none, but lash all in an insufferable manner. These disquiet families, neighbourhoods, communities, and commonwealths; see ( Psalms 73:7-9 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 "Nec bellua tetrior ulla est, quam servi rabies in libera colla furentis", Claudian. in Eutrop. l. 1. v. 183, 184.
F4 "Asperius nihil est humili, cum surgit in altum", Claudian. ib. v. 181.

Proverbs 30:22 In-Context

20 Such is the way of a woman adulteress, which eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I wrought not evil. (Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and then saith, I have done nothing wrong.)

21 The earth is moved by three things, and by the fourth thing, which it may not sustain;

22 by a servant, when he reigneth; by a fool, when he is filled with meat (by a fool, when he is filled full with food);

23 by an hateful woman, when she is taken in matrimony; and by an handmaid, when she is heir of her lady (and by a servantess, when she is her lady's heir).

24 Four [things] be the least things of [the] earth, and those be wiser than wise men;