Proverbs 12:1

1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.

Proverbs 12:1 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 12:1

Whose loveth instruction loveth knowledge
That loves the instruction of Wisdom, or Christ, ( Proverbs 4:13 ) ( 8:10 ) ; the means of instruction, the Scriptures, which are profitable for instruction in righteousness, and are written for our learning; the Gospel, which instructs into the person, office, and grace of Christ; the ministers of the word, who are so many instructors in Christ; and even the rod of afflictions, by which men are taught their duty, and the will of God: and these are to be loved; and he that loves them clearly shows that he loves knowledge; since the means of instruction, making use of them, and getting instruction by them, are attended with labour, trouble, and difficulty; which a man would not choose, had he not a love unto and a desire after knowledge, and an increase of it; as the knowledge of God, of Christ, and of his truths. Aben Ezra inverts the words;

``he that loves knowledge loves instruction;''
but the sense is much the same; but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish;
or a "beast" F11: as the man that is willing to be instructed, in order to gain knowledge, shows himself to be a wise and understanding man; so he that hates the reproof the word of God gives, or the ministers of it, or God by them, appears to be no better than a brute, than the horse or mule that want understanding: so the man of sin hates the Scriptures, the Gospel, and the ministers of it, and the reproofs and convictions they give of his idolatry, superstition, and will worship; nor does he care that his doctrines and practices should be brought to this test, or that the people should have knowledge of them; but keeps them from them, and sets up his own infallibility as the rule of judgment; and it is one character of his followers, that they "receive not the love of the truth", ( 2 Thessalonians 2:10 ) ; and both he and they are represented by a beast, ( Revelation 13:1 Revelation 13:11 ) ( 17:3 ) ; and are more brutish than any man; see ( Proverbs 5:11 Proverbs 5:12 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

F11 (reb) "instar bruti indocilis est", Michaelis.

Proverbs 12:1 In-Context

1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.
2 The good obtain favor from the Lord, but those who devise evil he condemns.
3 No one finds security by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
4 A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.