Proverbs 29 Study Notes

29:1 At the end of God’s patient call to obedience comes sudden judgment against the obstinate (2Kg 17:13-14,18; 2Ch 36:16; Neh 9:29-30; Jr 7:2-29; Ac 7:51; 2Pt 3:9-10).

29:2 On righteous flourish, see note at 28:12. People groan when oppressed (Ex 2:23) or devastated (Lm 1:4,8,11,21).

29:3 This could refer to the father’s or the man’s wealth. Since a father is responsible for a son’s debts, and a son hopes for an inheritance, the outcome is the same.

29:4 On justice and king, see note at 16:12. The Hebrew in the second line could refer to one who demands or who gives bribes, either of which subverts justice.

29:5 On flatters, see note at 2:16-17. His feet could be the neighbor’s or the speaker’s own feet (see v. 6; cp. 26:28).

29:6 The first line is literally “In the rebellion of a person of evil [is] a snare.” Sin contains the seeds of self-destruction (1:19), but the righteous person rejoices in security.

29:7 The rights refers to a legal decision (Ezr 7:26; Dn 7:22).

29:8 The wise encourage peace by their concern for justice and for the well-being of others and by their speech full of truth and grace.

29:9 Ranting and raving is literally “shakes (in rage; Jb 39:24) and laughs” (Pr 26:19).

29:10 The second line is difficult to translate (cp. 11:30). It is literally “and the upright ones, they seek his life.” Do bloodthirsty men seek to kill the upright? The phrase seek his life almost always means “try to kill,” but “upright” is plural and “his life” is singular. Or do the upright seek to take care of the honest person? That fits best with the rest of Proverbs, and seek can mean to “demand justice” (“require” in 2Sm 4:11).

29:11 The last line is literally “but the wise one, in the end, stills it.” This could mean that a wise person eventually quiets the fool’s ranting (26:5; cp. 29:9).

29:12 A ruler who likes to hear lies will end up accumulating wicked attendants.

29:13 On this in common, see note at 22:2. Light to the eyes means life. The Lord determines the outcome of both lives.

29:14 On king and fairness, see note at 16:12.

29:15 On this verse, see note at 23:13-14 (cp. 10:5,13;17:2).

29:16 On leadership of the wicked and the righteous, see note at 28:12.

29:17 Peace of mind means being free from emotional and physical threats (Jb 3:26; Ps 116:7; Is 14:3,7). A wise child provides necessities as well as delight (Gn 49:20; Lm 4:5).

29:18 Revelation, like instruction, probably refers to the inspired wisdom in Proverbs. True happiness (see note at 3:13-18) is found within God’s plan.

29:19 A foolish servant only responds to corporal punishment (see note at 13:24).

29:20 A fool is less likely to get into trouble if he is not one who speaks rashly (18:7; 20:25).

29:21 A servant, like any other person, needs to be prepared during his youth to fulfill his life’s responsibilities (22:6). On later on, see “at the end” in note at 5:11.

29:22 The proverb is similar to 15:18 (see also 22:24). The hothead’s resentment causes him to seek a pretext to escalate every difference into a fight. He is ruled by his passions (Bruce Waltke).

29:23 Pride comes from a root that means exaltation, being high, while humble means being low. The proud person denies dependence on God and resents submission to God’s plans.

29:24 Associating with the wicked is self-destructive (1:19; 24:21-22). In an unsolved case, the legal system would announce a curse on the perpetrator and any accomplices (Lv 5:1). If witnesses came forward or the thief turned himself in, they could be exonerated (Jdg 17:2). But God’s curse would be on this partner if he refused to testify against the thief (Zch 5:3-4; cp. Nm 5:21).

29:25 A snare can be fatal (13:14; 14:27; 18:7). Fear is literally “sheer terror” (1Sm 14:15; Is 21:4; Dn 10:7). A wise person does not fear mortal man. The only One to fear is the Lord, who is able to protect or destroy (18:10; Lk 12:4-5).

29:26 Many try to sway a ruler, but the fact that he might be swayed makes him a less reliable judge than the Lord (19:6; cp. 16:10,12).

29:27 To detest an unjust person is to agree with God (3:32; 11:1; 12:22; 15:8-9,26; 16:5,12; 17:15; 20:10,23; 21:27; 28:9; Ps 139:21-22; 2Co 6:14-16), but hating the upright is wrong (v. 10; Ps 69:4; Mt 10:22; 24:9; Jn 15:18; 17:14; 1Jn 3:13).