Proverbs 20:30

30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.

Proverbs 20:30 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 20:30

The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil
Rubs it off and scours it away, as the word F13 signifies, or is a clearing and rubbing it off; some men must be beaten black and blue, or must have very sore correction, before they can be reclaimed and reformed from their evil ways; so some interpret it of the evil man F14: sanctified afflictions to God's people are the means of purging away their iniquities, their dross, and their sin; but there is nothing so effectually cleanses from sin as the blood of Jesus, or heals or cures of it as his blue wounds and stripes; see ( Isaiah 27:9 ) ( 53:5 ) ; so [do] stripes the inward part of the belly;
or heart and conscience; by means of corrections and chastisement men are brought to an inward sense of sin; they are shown their transgressions wherein they have exceeded, and are commanded to return from iniquity, ( Job 36:9 Job 36:10 ) ; they lament and mourn over sin, confess it and forsake it; and then may the inwards of the heart, the mind and conscience, defiled with them, be said to be cleansed from them; especially when led by these stripes and corrections to the stripes, wounds, and blood of Christ which, being applied, cleanse from all, sin inwardly and outwardly.


FOOTNOTES:

F13 (qyrmt) "abstesio", Piscator, Mercerus, Cocceius; "detersio", Montanus, Michaelis; "effricatio", Schultens.
F14 (erb) "in malo, sub, homine", Vatablus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; "in malo (homine nequam)", Schultens, so Aben Ezra.

Proverbs 20:30 In-Context

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
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