Proverbs 8:5

5 O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.

Proverbs 8:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 8:5

O ye simple, understand wisdom
The Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, particularly the doctrine of salvation by Christ; it is the highest wisdom to know Christ and him crucified: and they are "the simple" who are weak and easy to be imposed upon, who are here called unto; and generally speaking such are they to whom the mysteries of grace are made known, while they are hid from the wise and prudent;

and ye fools, be of an understanding heart;
or "cause the heart to understand"; or "get an understanding heart" ^F20; make use of all means to get spiritual wisdom and understanding; all men, let them be what they will in other respects, are fools as to a spiritual and experimental knowledge of divine things; and that man can only be said to have truly an understanding heart that knows his own folly, the plague of his heart, his need of Christ, the worth of him; and has an understanding given him to know him and his interest in him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (bl wnybh) "facite cor intelligere", Baynus, Mercerus; "facite ut cor vestrum intelligat", so some in Vatablus; "acquirite animum sapientem", Gejerus.

Proverbs 8:5 In-Context

3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, ,

4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.

5 O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.

6 Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn ; and will produce right from my lips.

7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.

Footnotes

• [a]. For the use of ??at?? and pa??????? in this book, see Appendix in which the following appears: Proverbs 8.5 — It is frequently the case in Proverbs that ??at?? is used in a bad sense, and pa??????? in a good one. For ??at?? see chap 1. 4,22; 8.5; 14.15; 21.11. For pa???????, 12. 16; 13.1, 16; 14.8,15,18; 15.5; 21.11; 22.3; 27.12; 28.2.