Proverbs 19 Study Notes

19:16 Keeps and preserves both come from the Hebrew word shamar. The commands are not just God’s commandments, but instruction from any good source. Also, the mention of his ways probably does not refer directly to God’s ways because God is not mentioned in context. Disregarding one’s own ways has to do with not wanting to watch carefully what one is doing, not taking responsibility—the opposite of making sure that one’s ways are God’s ways (8:32).

19:17 God takes care of those who care for the poor (14:21,31; 22:9; 28:27). The reward (lit “repayment,” related to shalom, “wholeness,” 13:13; 25:22) from God is not necessarily money and will not necessarily come in this life.

19:18 The son who is not disciplined will remain a slacker or a fool and will perish—physically and spiritually. The parent should strive not to let this happen (3:12; 5:23; 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15; Heb 12:5-11). As long as a son is alive, there is hope.

19:19 A person with a hot temper (see note at 14:17) should be left to pay the consequences—it is the only way he will learn.

19:20 On later in life, see “at the end” in note at 5:11.

19:21 Prevail is literally “stand” (cp. “succeed” in 15:22).

19:22 The Hebrew word chesed, generally translated “faithful love,” can also mean fidelity (3:3; 20:6,28) or “kindness” (see 11:17). It is used of the faithful covenant love that God has for his people (Ex 20:6; Dt 7:9; 2Sm 7:15; Ps 23:6; Is 16:5; 54:8; Jr 31:3; see word study at Ps 136). There is a homonym chesed that means “shame.” If every word in the first line is given a negative spin, it reads, “The craving of a human is his shame.” It is better to be a faithful poor person than someone who craves what he does not have and lies to get it.

19:23 See note at 3:22. The second line reads literally “he will spend the night satisfied, without being visited by evil.”

19:24 On bowl and slacker, see note at 26:15.

19:25 On inexperienced, see note at 1:4. The mocker (see note at 1:22) does not learn (13:1; 14:6; 15:12), but the discerning (see note at 1:5) is willing to learn from rebuke (9:8; 28:23).

19:26 According to Duane Garrett, 19:25-20:1 is about the mocker, whose “quintessential act” is to mistreat his parents “because it is a rejection of the most basic form of respect for authority.”

19:27 The Hebrew does not have if; instead, it is sarcastic: “stop listening . . . in order to stray.” To stray is to be lost, stagger, or be misled (5:23; 20:1; 28:10; cp. “disregards his ways” in 19:16). On correction, see “discipline” in note at 1:2.

19:28 The meaning of swallows iniquity is uncertain. Perhaps the wicked person considers sin a tasty morsel. Or perhaps the worthless (see note at 6:12) witness (see note at 12:17) will be forced to “swallow” the consequences of his lies (19:29).

19:29 Judgment is always God’s final punishment; it is never meant for correction. Beatings are potentially corrective, but fools (Hb kesiyl, see note at 1:22) are obstinate and do not change.