Proverbs 15:31

“The ear that heareth the reproof of life, etc.] That is given according to the word of life, in a warm, fervent, and lively manner, with zeal, and in good earnest; which reproves the life of another by his own, as well as by words; and which tends to the spiritual and eternal life of the person reproved; being taken, a man that diligently hearkens to, kindly and cordially receives, and cheerfully obeys such reproof given him, abideth among the wise; he not only chooseth to be among them, that he may have the advantage of their wise counsels and reproofs, but he becomes wise himself thereby, and attains to the character of a wise man, and is numbered among them; such a man abides in the house…”

“(Compare Pro 10:17). reproof of life--which leads to life. abideth . . . wise--is numbered among them.”

“The reproof of life - i. e., The reproof that leads to, or gives life, rather than that which comes from life and its experience. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The ear - The man that hearkens to that reproof which leads to life, seeks and delights in the company of the wise. Proverbs 15:33”

“ear: Pro 15:5, Pro 1:23, Pro 9:8, Pro 9:9, Pro 13:20, Pro 19:20, Pro 25:12; Isa 55:3 abideth: Joh 15:3, Joh 15:4; Jo1 2:19 Proverbs 15:32”

“31 An ear which heareth the doctrine of life Keeps itself in the circle of the wise. As, Pro 6:33, תוכחות מוסר means instructions aiming at discipline, so here תּוכחת חיּים means instructions which have life as their end, i.e., as showing how one may attain unto true life; Hitzig's חכם, for חיים, is a fancy. Is now the meaning this, that the ear which willingly hears and receives such doctrine of life will come to dwell among the wise, i.e., that such an one (for אזן is synecdoche partis pro persona, as Job 29:11) will have his residence among wise men, as being one of them, inter eos sedem firmam habebit iisque annumerabitur (Fl.)? By such a rendering, one is surprised at the harshness of…”