Proverbs 19:2

2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.

Proverbs 19:2 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:2

Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good,
&c.] Without knowledge of things natural and civil, especially without the knowledge of God and Christ, and divine and spiritual things; to be without this is not good, yea, very bad; for men without such knowledge and understanding are, like the beasts that perish, and for lack of it do. Jarchi interprets it, without the law. Or, "to be without the knowledge of the soul is not good" ^F5; so the Targum, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions,

``he that knoweth not his soul, it is not good for him;''

that does not know he has a soul, or however takes no more care of it than if he had none; who knows not the worth and value of it, its state and condition, and the danger it is in, and the only way of attaining the salvation of it; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth;
who engages in anything ignorantly and rashly, he misses the mark, and fails in the performance of it, for want of due consideration and care. The Targum is,

``he that is swift with his feet to evil is a sinner;''

whose feet run to evil, to commit robbery, as Aben Ezra; or to shed blood; see ( Proverbs 1:16 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F5 So Vatablus; or "without care of it", Schultcns.

Proverbs 19:2 In-Context

1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.

3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the Lord.

4 Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.