Proverbs 19:8

8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself; he who guards understanding [loves] to find good.

Proverbs 19:8 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:8

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul
Wisdom and knowledge in things natural and civil; and especially in things divine, spiritual, and evangelical; particularly he that gets Christ, the Wisdom of God, and a saving knowledge of him; see ( Proverbs 3:13 ) . Or, "he that getteth a heart" ^F16; a good heart, as the Targum explains it; which is a new heart, and a new spirit; a clean heart and a right spirit; a heart of flesh, a soft, tender, and contrite one, in opposition to a hard heart, a heart of stone: a wise and understanding heart, such an one as Solomon had; a heart to know the Lord, and to fear him; in which his laws are written, the graces of his Spirit are implanted; and in which God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, dwell: he who is desirous of such a he art seeks after it, prays for it, and uses all means to obtain it; and who, through the grace of God; does possess it, as the word signifies; he by all this shows that he has a regard to the good and welfare of his immortal soul; when such, who indulge to ignorance and a wicked heart, wrong and hate their own souls; see ( Proverbs 29:24 ) ; he that keepeth understanding shall find good;
retains the wisdom he has got; holds fast instruction, and keeps it, which is committed to him; abides by the doctrines of the Gospel, and does not depart from them; keeps the ordinances of it, which it is his wisdom and understanding to do; see ( Deuteronomy 4:6 ) ; he finds his account in all this; he finds that which is good, good for him now and hereafter; he finds Christ, and life in him; peace, joy, and comfort in this world: and, in the world to come, glory, honour, and happiness.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (bl) "cor", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Mercerus

Proverbs 19:8 In-Context

6 Many will seek favor before the generous, and everyone [is] the friend of a man of gifts.

7 All the brothers of the poor, [if] they hate him, how much more will his friends keep away from him. He pursues [them with] words, [and] they are gone.

8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself; he who guards understanding [loves] to find good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes lies will perish.

10 For a fool living in luxury is not fitting, [any] more [than it is] for a slave to rule over princes.

Footnotes

• [a] Or "soul," or "inner self"