Proverbs 29:3

3 A man that loveth wisdom, maketh glad his father; but he that nourisheth a strumpet, shall lose his chattel. (A man who loveth wisdom, maketh his father glad; but he who feedeth a whore, shall lose his possessions.)

Proverbs 29:3 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 29:3

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father
He that is a philosopher, especially a religious one, that not only loves and seeks after natural wisdom, but moral wisdom and knowledge; and more particularly evangelical wisdom, Christ the Wisdom of God, who is to be valued and loved above all things; the Gospel of Christ, which is the wisdom of God in a mystery; and the knowledge of it which is the wisdom which comes from above and is pure and peaceable; and which lies much in the fear of God, and in the faith of Jesus Christ, attended with all the fruits of righteousness: such a son makes glad his father, both because of his temporal good, since he does not waste but improve the substance he has given him; and because of his spiritual and eternal welfare; and since instead of being a reproach he is an honour to him; see ( Proverbs 10:1 ) ; but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth [his] substance:
his father has given him, and comes to want and beggary; all which is a grief to his parents: or, "that feeds harlots" F9; who live in a riotous and voluptuous manner, and soon drain a man of his substance, and bring him to a morsel of bread; see ( Luke 15:13 Luke 15:14 Luke 15:30 ) ( Proverbs 6:26 ) ; and such a son grieves his father, seeing he spends his substance and damns his soul.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (her) "nutrit", V. L. "pascit", Pagninus, Piscator, Gejerus, Schultens; "pascitur", Michaelis; "pascens", Montanus, Mercerus.

Proverbs 29:3 In-Context

1 Sudden perishing shall come [up]on that man, that with hard noll, that is, (with) an obstinate soul, despiseth a blamer (despiseth a rebuker); and health shall not follow him.
2 The commonality shall be glad in the multiplying of just men; when wicked men have taken princehood, the people shall wail. (The community shall be glad when the righteous rule; but when the wicked rule, then the people shall wail.)
3 A man that loveth wisdom, maketh glad his father; but he that nourisheth a strumpet, shall lose his chattel. (A man who loveth wisdom, maketh his father glad; but he who feedeth a whore, shall lose his possessions.)
4 A just king raiseth [up] the land; an avaricious man shall destroy it.
5 A man that speaketh by flattering and feigned words to his friend, spreadeth abroad a net to his steps.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.