Proverbs 10:21

“The lips of the righteous feed many, etc.] Not their bodies; words are but wind, and will not feed; it is not enough to say to the distressed, “be ye warmed and filled”, and give nothing; unless this can be understood of obtaining food for others by their prayers, as Jarchi interprets it: but the souls of many; these the righteous feed, by communicating the spiritual knowledge and understanding of divine things they are partakers of; by setting before them the bread of life, the honey and milk of the Gospel, they have under their tongue; and by the good counsel and advice, comforts and admonitions, they give them; (see <240315>Jeremiah 3:15 <220411>Song of Solomon 4:11); but fools die for…”

“Fools not only fail to benefit others, as do the righteous, but procure their own ruin (compare Pro 10:11, Pro 10:17; Hos 4:6).”

“Feed - The Hebrew word, like ποιμαίνειν poimainein, includes the idea of guiding as well as nourishing; doing a shepherd’s work in both. For want of wisdom - Some prefer, through him who wanteth understanding, referring to a person. The wise guides others to safety; the fool, empty-headed, and empty-hearted, involves others like himself in destruction. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Feed - By their wise discourses and counsels. Die - They have not wisdom to preserve themselves, much less to feed others. Proverbs 10:26”

“feed: Pro 12:18, Pro 15:4; Job 4:3, Job 4:4, Job 23:12, Job 29:21, Job 29:22; Psa 37:30; Ecc 12:9, Ecc 12:10; Jer 3:15, Jer 15:16; Joh 21:15-17; Pe1 5:2 fools: Pro 1:29, Pro 1:31, Pro 5:12, Pro 5:23; Hos 4:6; Mat 13:19; Joh 3:19, Joh 3:20; Rom 1:28 wisdom: Heb. heart, Pro 17:16 Proverbs 10:22”

“21 The lips of the righteous edify many; But fools die through want of understanding. The lxx translate 21a: the lips of the righteous ἐπίσταται ὑψηλά, which would at least require ידעו רבות. רעה is, like the post-bibl. pir neec (vid., the Hebr. Rmerbrief, p. 97), another figure for the N.T. οἰκοδομεῖν: to afford spiritual nourishment and strengthening, to which Fleischer compares the ecclesiastical expressions: pastor, ovile ecclesiae, les ouailles; רעה means leader, Jer 10:21, as well as teacher, Ecc 12:11, for it contains partly the prevailing idea of leading, partly of feeding. ירעוּ stands for תּרעינה, as Pro 10:32, Pro 5:2. In 21b, Bertheau incorrectly explains, as Euchel and…”