Proverbs 9:6
"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Forsake the foolish,.... Foolish men and their company; not men of weak abilities in things natural and civil, or who are reckoned foolish by the world; for so the saints are, whose company is not to be neglected and forsaken; but such who are wickedly foolish, who are ignorant of divine things, and make a mock at sin and at religion; such company is very unsuitable for Wisdom's guests; such as turn in to her house ought to forsake these; it is quite out of character for Wisdom's followers to be the companions of fools; it is very unprofitable to keep company with such vain men, yea, very pernicious and hurtful, and of very bad consequence; it corrupts good manners, and causes grief, and breaks peace, sooner or later; it is

quite unbecoming them to converse with them; they are called out from among them by Christ, and should obey: and, besides, they have better company to attend unto: and they should also forsake "foolish" (m) things; the Septuagint version renders it, "foolishness"; and the Arabic version, "imprudence"; the Targum and Syriac version, "want of understanding", or "judgment"; foolish lusts, which are hurtful, and war against the soul, and which should be denied and abstained from; and all foolish ways, their own or others', which are dangerous and lead to ruin; and all foolish doctrines, such as are contrary to the Scriptures, to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles; that tend to degrade any of the Persons of the Trinity, to obscure or lessen the grace of God in man's salvation, or to exalt the creature; all such are to be forsaken, shunned, and avoided, and by no means countenanced and encouraged; and live; which may be considered either as an exhortation, as the foregoing; live on the provisions of Wisdom's house, on her bread and her wine; live on Christ himself by faith; live not as the foolish do, but as the wise; live not to yourselves, nor to the lusts of men, but to the will and glory of God; live not in sin, but unto righteousness; live not to the flesh, nor after it, but to and after the spirit: or as a promise by way of encouragement, and as enforcing the preceding exhortation, "and ye shall live" (n); honourably, and not scandalously, as they do that keep company with the foolish; comfortably and delightfully, as they do that turn into Wisdom's house, and are her guests; such live in communion with Christ, and with his people; they live a spiritual life now, and shall live an eternal one hereafter; and go in the way of understanding; as such do that quit the conversation of foolish men, and become the guests of Wisdom; such are in, and go in the way of understanding, who frequently attend the throne of grace, and ask wisdom of the Father of lights; the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of divine things, which they that ask have; Solomon got all his wisdom and understanding this way: such are in the way of it, and go in the way of it, who constantly and carefully read the Scriptures, which are able to make a man wise unto salvation; who go up to the house of the Lord as often as they have opportunity, that they may be taught by trim; who sit under the ministry of Gospel preachers, that feed men with knowledge and understanding; who submit to Gospel ordinances, and keep the commandments of Christ; for such are said to have a good understanding; they show that they have, and by these means get and increase it; see Psa 111:10 ; and who also converse with knowing and experienced Christians; for "he that walketh with wise men shall be wise", Pro 13:20 . (m) "imperitiam", Tigurine version; "stultitias", Vatablus; "fatuitates", Piscator, Schultens; "stoliditates", Gejerus, Gussetius, p. 703. (n) "et vivetis", Pagninus, Vatablus, Piscator, Mercerus, Michaelis.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (6 words)

H5800 עָזַב
Definition:

A primitive root; to loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc. -- commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, X surely.Brown-Driver-BriggsI.עָזַב213verbleave, forsake, loose A primitive root; to loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc. -- commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, X surely.Brown-Driver-BriggsI.עָזַב213verbleave, forsake, loose

Possible Meanings:
  • restore (semantic_range)
  • repair (semantic_range)
H6612 פְתִי
Definition:

Or pethiy {peh'-thee}; or pthaeiy {peth-aw-ee'}; frompathah; silly (i.e. Seducible) -- foolish, simple(-icity, one).see HEBREWpathahBrown-Driver-Briggsמֶּ֫תִי[forמָּתַיLag BN 52 BaZMG xlii (1888), 353 Or pethiy {peh'-thee}; or pthaeiy {peth-aw-ee'}; frompathah; silly (i.e. Seducible) -- foolish, simple(-icity, one).see HEBREWpathahBrown-Driver-Briggsמֶּ֫תִי[forמָּתַיLag BN 52 BaZMG xlii (1888), 353

Possible Meanings:
  • breadth (semantic_range)
H2421 חָיָה
Definition:

A primitive root (comparechavah,chayah); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive -- keep (live, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish A primitive root (comparechavah,chayah); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive -- keep (live, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish

Possible Meanings:
  • having the vigour of life (semantic_range)
  • lively (semantic_range)
H0833 אָשַׁר
Definition:

6אִשְׁרוּ בְדֶרֶךְ בִּינָהgo straight on in the way of understanding.Pi`elPerfectאִשְּׁרוּMalachi 3:12;Genesis 30:13;ImperfectתְּאַשֵּׁרProverbs 4:144t.;ImperativeאַשֵּׁרProverbs 23:19;Participleplura 6אִשְׁרוּ בְדֶרֶךְ בִּינָהgo straight on in the way of understanding.Pi`elPerfectאִשְּׁרוּMalachi 3:12;Genesis 30:13;ImperfectתְּאַשֵּׁרProverbs 4:144t.;ImperativeאַשֵּׁרProverbs 23:19;Participleplura

Possible Meanings:
  • Asher (semantic_range)
  • happy one (semantic_range)
  • Felix (semantic_range)
  • the tribe (semantic_range)
H1870 דֶּרֶךְ
Definition:

16& (less often)feminineExodus 18:20way, road, distance, journey, manner — absolute׳דGenesis 38:16+;דָּ֑רֶךְGenesis 38:21+; constructדֶּרֶךְGenesis 3:24; suffixדַּרְכִּיGenesis 24:424t. +2 Samuel 22:3 16& (less often)feminineExodus 18:20way, road, distance, journey, manner — absolute׳דGenesis 38:16+;דָּ֑רֶךְGenesis 38:21+; constructדֶּרֶךְGenesis 3:24; suffixדַּרְכִּיGenesis 24:424t. +2 Samuel 22:3

H0998 בִּינָה
Definition:

3228t.; constructבִּינַתProverbs 30:2;Isaiah 29:14; suffixבִּינָתִיJob 20:34t.; pluralבִּינוֺתIsaiah 27:11; —1the actIsaiah 33:19;Jeremiah 23:20;Daniel 1:20;Daniel 8:15;Daniel 9:22;Daniel 10:1.2the fa 3228t.; constructבִּינַתProverbs 30:2;Isaiah 29:14; suffixבִּינָתִיJob 20:34t.; pluralבִּינוֺתIsaiah 27:11; —1the actIsaiah 33:19;Jeremiah 23:20;Daniel 1:20;Daniel 8:15;Daniel 9:22;Daniel 10:1.2the fa

Possible Meanings:
  • understanding (semantic_range)

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