Proverbs 10:1

“The proverbs of Solomon, etc.] This title is repeated from (<200101>Proverbs 1:1); and very properly stands here; since here begin those pithy sentences of Solomon, which bear the name of proverbs; the preceding chapters being a sort of preface or introduction to them; in which Solomon recommends the study of wisdom, shows the profit and advantage of it, gives directions about it, and prepares for the reception of those wise sayings that follow; which are for the most part independent of each other, and consist generally of clauses set in a contrast to one another, and often expressed by similes and metaphors; a wise son maketh a glad father; as Solomon made glad his father David: for no…”

“Here begins the second part of the book, Pro. 10:1-22:16, which, with the third, Pro. 22:16-25:28, contains series of proverbs whose sense is complete in one or two verses, and which, having no logical connection, admit of no analysis. The parallelisms of Pro. 10:1-15:33 are mostly antithetic; and those of Pro. 16:1-22:16, synthetic. The evidences of art in the structure are very clear, and indicate, probably, a purpose of facilitating the labor of memorizing. (Pro. 10:1-32) wise [and] foolish--as they follow or reject the precepts of wisdom. maketh . . . father--or, "gladdens a father." heaviness--or, "grief."”

“See the Introduction. return to 'Top of Page'”

“10:1–22:16 This long section is called The proverbs of Solomon. It consists mostly of brief bits of advice and observation. These sayings make heavy use of antithetical parallelism to contrast wisdom and righteousness with folly and wickedness. The arrangement of these proverbs appears to be essentially random, as in Egyptian and Mesopotamian wisdom literature. Some proverbs are repeated (see 6:10-11 and 24:33-34; 14:12 and 16:25; 18:8 and 26:22; 19:24 and 26:15; 20:16 and 27:13; 21:9 and 25:24; 22:3 and 27:12). Sometimes a group of proverbs shares a similar theme (e.g., 16:1-11). 10:1 The joy or grief of godly parents reflects the degree of their child’s obedience to principles of wisdom.”

“proverbs: Pro 1:1, Pro 25:1; Kg1 4:32; Ecc 12:9 A wise: Pro 15:20, Pro 17:21, Pro 17:25, Pro 19:13, Pro 23:15, Pro 23:16, Pro 23:24, Pro 23:25, Pro 29:3, Pro 29:15; Ecc 2:19 Proverbs 10:2”

“In the introduction, chap. 1-9, there are larger sections of interconnected thoughts having one common aim. Even in Prov 6:1-19 there are manifestly three proverbial discourses distinguished from one another, shorter indeed, yet containing one fundamental thought. Such proverbs as are primarily designed to form one completed little whole of themselves, are not here to be met with. On the contrary, the Solomonic collection which now follows consists of pure distichs, for the most part antithetical, but at the same time going over all the forms of the technical proverb, as we have already shown; vid., p. 16. Accordingly the exposition must from this point onward renounce reproduced…”