Mishle 22:1

1 2 A shem tov is rather to be desired than osher rav, and chen (grace) rather than kesef and zahav.

Mishle 22:1 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 22:1

A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches
The word "good" is not in the text, but is rightly supplied, as it is by the Targum, Septuagint, and Vulgate Latin versions; for it is not any name that is more eligible than riches; nor is it a need name among any sort of persons; for to have a good name with some turns to a man's reproach rather than to his credit; but a good name among good men, a name in the house of God, which is better than sons and daughters; a new name, the name of the children of God, which no man knoweth but he that receiveth it; this is to be preferred to a multitude of riches: it is not to be procured by them, and is where they are not, or are lost, but this continues; see ( Ecclesiastes 7:1 ) ; [and] loving favour rather them silver and gold;
favour with God and man, especially with God, whose loving kindness is better than life, and all the enjoyments of it: or, as it may be rendered, "grace [is] better than silver and gold" F16; the grace of God through Christ, the grace of Christ, in whom all fulness of it dwells, the grace of the Spirit of Christ; faith is more precious than gold that perisheth; and if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would be contemned; the Spirit and his grace are not to be purchased for money.


FOOTNOTES:

F16 (bwj Nx) "gratia melior", Munster, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Michaelis; so Schultens.

Mishle 22:1 In-Context

1 2 A shem tov is rather to be desired than osher rav, and chen (grace) rather than kesef and zahav.
2 The oisher (rich man) and the rahsh (pauper) have this in common: Hashem is the Oseh (Maker) of them all.
3 A prudent man foreseeth the ra’ah, and hideth himself, but the naïve trudge on, and are punished.
4 By anavah (humility) and the Yirat Hashem are osher, and kavod, and chayyim.
5 Thorns and pachim (snares) are in the derech of the crooked; he that is shomer over his nefesh shall be far from them.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.