Proverbs 25:20

“[As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, etc.] Either takes it off of himself, or another person, when it would be rather more proper to put another garment on, and so is exposed to the injury of cold weather; [and as] vinegar upon nitre: nitre was found in Egypt, beyond Memphis, as Strabo saysf689; there were two mines of nitre, which produced much, and thence it was called the Nitriotic Nome: others say, nitre has its name from Nitria, a town in Egyptf690, which gives name to the Nitrian desert, where there is a lake called Latron; from the bottom of which, that sort of nitre, called Natron, arises to the top, as is apprehended, and there, by the heat of the sun, condenses into…”

“Not only is the incongruity of songs (that is, joyful) and sadness meant, but an accession of sadness, by want of sympathy, is implied.”

“Examples of unwisdom and incongruity sharpen the point of the proverb. Pouring vinegar upon nitre or potash utterly spoils it. The effervescence caused by the mixture is perhaps taken as a type of the irritation produced by the “songs” sung out of season to a heavy heart. The verb rendered “taketh away” may have the sense (as in Ezekiel 16:11) of “adorning oneself,” and the illustration would then be, “as to put on a fine garment in time of cold is unseasonable, so is singing to a heavy heart.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“As vinegar - Which dissolves the nitre, and makes it useless and ineffectual. Proverbs 25:21”

“that taketh: Deu 24:12-17; Job 24:7-10; Isa 58:7; Jam 2:15, Jam 2:16 vinegar: Pro 10:26 so: Psa 137:3, Psa 137:4; Ecc 3:4; Dan 6:18; Rom 12:15; Jam 5:15 Proverbs 25:21”