Spreuken 17:10

10 De bestraffing gaat dieper in den verstandige, dan den zot honderd maal te slaan.

Spreuken 17:10 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 17:10

A reproof entereth more into a wise man
A single verbal reproof, gently, kindly, and prudently given, not only enters the ear, but the heart of a wise and understanding man; it descends into him, as the word ^F11 signifies; it sinks deep into his mind; it penetrates into his heart, and pierces his conscience; brings him easily to humiliation, confession, and reformation. Or, "reproof is more terror to a wise man"; as Jarchi interprets it, and the Tigurine version; it awes and terrifies him more; a single word has more effect upon him, entering more easily into him, than an hundred stripes into a fool;
or, "than smiting a fool a hundred times" ^F12: a word to a wise man is more than a hundred blows to a fool, will sooner correct and amend him; a word will enter where a blow will not; stripes only reach the back, but not the heart of a fool; he is never the better for all the corrections given him; his heart is not affected, is not humbled, nor brought to a sense of sin, and acknowledgment of it; nor is he in the least reformed: or a single reproof to a wise man is of more service than a hundred reproofs to a fool; which are sometimes expressed by smiting, "let the righteous smite me" ( Psalms 141:5 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (txt) "descendet", Montanus; "descendit", Vatablus, Mercerus, Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus.
F12 (ham lyok twkhm) "magis quam si percuties stolidum centies", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, so Pagninus, Michaelis.

Spreuken 17:10 In-Context

8 Het geschenk is in de ogen zijner heren een aangenaam gesteente; waarhenen het zich zal wenden, zal het wel gedijen.

9 Die de overtreding toedekt, zoekt liefde; maar die de zaak weder ophaalt, scheidt den voornaamsten vriend.

10 De bestraffing gaat dieper in den verstandige, dan den zot honderd maal te slaan.

11 Zekerlijk, de wederspannige zoekt het kwaad; maar een wrede bode zal tegen hem gezonden worden.

12 Dat een beer, die van jongen beroofd is, een man tegemoet kome, maar niet een zot in zijn dwaasheid.