Proverbs 14:34

“Righteousness exalteth a nation, etc.] Administered by the government, and exercised by subjects towards one another; doing justice between man and man: this exalts a nation, as it did the people of Israel, while practised among them; this sets a people above their neighbours, and high in the esteem of God and men; and is attended with privileges and blessings, which make a nation great and honourable. Some understand this of aims deeds, or beneficence to the poor; which, both in the Hebrew and Greek languages, is called righteousness; (see Gill on “<400601>Matthew 6:1”). It may be put for the whole of true religion, which is an honour to a nation, where it obtains; and is what makes the…”

“Righteousness--just principles and actions. exalteth--raises to honor. is a reproach--brings on them the ill-will of others (compare Pro 13:6).”

“Reproach - The word so rendered has this sense in the Targum of Leviticus 20:17. Its more usual meaning is “mercy,” “piety;” hence, some have attached to the word rendered “sin” the sense of “sin-offering,” and so get the maxim “piety is an atonement for the people.” return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Proverbs 14". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/proverbs-14.html. 1870. StudyLight.org &copy;&#160;2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”

“14:34 A great nation is not defined by wealth, power, or military victories (14:28) but by godliness.”

“Righteousness: Deu 4:6-8, Deu 28:1-14; Jdg 2:6-14; Jer. 2:2-25; Hos 13:1 but: Deut. 28:15-68, Deu 29:18-28; Psa 107:34; Ezek. 16:1-63, 22:1-23:49 any people: Heb. nations Proverbs 14:35”

“Two proverbs follow regarding the state and its ruler: 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation, And sin is a disgrace to the people. The Hebr. language is richer in synonyms of "the people" than the German. גּוי (formed like the non-bibl. מוי, water, and נוי, corporealness, from גּוה, to extend itself from within outward; cf. Pro 9:3, גּפּי, Pro 10:13, גּו) is, according to the usus loq., like natio the people, as a mass swollen up from a common origin, and עם, 28a (from עמם, to bind), the people as a confederation held together by a common law; לאם (from לאם, to unite, bind together) is the mass (multitude) of the people, and is interchanged sometimes with גוי, Gen 25:23, and sometimes with עם,…”