Proverbs Chapter 18

“Through desire a man having separated himself, seeketh, etc.] Or, “a separated man seeketh desire”f513; his own desire, will, and pleasure. This is either to be understood in a good sense, of one that has a real and hearty desire after sound wisdom and knowledge, and seeks in the use of all proper means to attain it; and in order to which he separates himself from the world and the business of it, and retires to his study, and gives up himself to reading, meditation, and prayer; or goes abroad in search of it, as Aben Ezra: or of a vain man that affects singularity; and who, through a desire of gratifying that…”

“(Pro. 18:1-24) Through desire . . . seeketh--that is, seeks selfish gratification. intermeddleth . . . wisdom--or, "rushes on" (Pro 17:14) against all wisdom, or what is valuable (Pro 2:7).”

“The text and the marginal readings indicate the two chief constructions of this somewhat difficult verse. Other renderings are (1) He who separateth himself from others seeks his own desire, and rushes forward against all wise counsel: a warning against self-will and the self-assertion which exults in differing from the received customs and opinions of mankind. (2) he who separates himself (from the foolish, unlearned multitude) seeks his own desire (that which is worthy to be desired), and mingleth himself with all wisdom. So the Jewish commentators generally. Between (1) blaming and (2) commending the life of…”

“Desire - Thro' desire of wisdom, a man having separated himself from the company, and noise, and business of the world, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom, uses all diligence, that he may search and find out all solid knowledge and true wisdom. Proverbs 18:2”

“18:4 Words flow from one’s character as water bubbles up from the earth (see also 10:20; 12:23; 16:23; cp. Jas 3:10-12).”

“Through: etc. or, He that separateth himself seeketh, according to his desire and intermeddleth in every business. Exo 33:16; Zac 7:3; Rom 1:1; Co2 6:17; Jde 1:19 seeketh: Pro 2:1-6; Mat 13:11, Mat 13:44; Mar 4:11; Eph 5:15-17 intermeddleth: Pro 14:10, Pro 17:14, Pro 20:3, Pro 20:19, Pro 24:21, Pro 26:17; Isa 26:8, Isa 26:9; Jer 15:17; Mar 1:35 Proverbs 18:2”

“This series of proverbs now turns from the fool to the separatist: The separatist seeketh after his own pleasure; Against all that is beneficial he showeth his teeth. The reflexive נפרד has here the same meaning as the Rabbinical פּרשׁ מן־הצּבּוּר, to separate oneself from the congregation, Aboth ii. 5; נפרד denotes a man who separates himself, for he follows his own counsel, Arab. mnfrd (mtfrrd) brâyh, or jḥys almḥḥl (seorsum ab aliis secedens). Instead of לתּאוה, Hitzig, after Jerome, adopts the emendation לתאנה, "after an occasion" (a pretext), and by נפרד thinks of one pushed aside, who, thrown into…”