Proverbs 29:18

“Where [there is] no vision, the people perish, etc.] That is, “no prophecy”, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; and which is often the sense of the word, as the vision of Isaiah is the prophecy of Isaiah; and, in the New Testament, prophesying is often put for preaching; and here vision, or prophecy, signifies the public ministering of the word and ordinances, and want of persons to administer them; no expounder, as the Septuagint version; or interpreter, as the Arabic. This was the case in the latter end of Eli’s life, (<090301>1 Samuel 3:1); in Asa’s times, and before, (<141503>2 Chronicles 15:3); in the Babylonish captivity, (<260726>Ezekiel 7:26 <250209> Lamentations 2:9); in the…”

“no vision--instruction in God's truth, which was by prophets, through visions (Sa1 3:1). people perish--(Compare Margin), are deprived of moral restraints. keepeth the law--has, and observes, instruction (Pro 14:11, Pro 14:34; Psa 19:11).”

“Vision - The word commonly used of the revelation of God’s will made to prophets. Compare Isaiah 1:1; Nahum 1:1. When prophetic vision fails, obedience to the Law is the best or only substitute for it, both being forms through which divine wisdom is revealed. Very striking in the midst of ethical precepts is this recognition of the need of a yet higher teaching, without which morality passes into worldly prudence or degenerates into casuistry. The “wise man,” the son of David, has seen in the prophets and in their work the condition of true national blessedness. The darkest time in the history of Israel had been when there “was no open vision 1 Samuel 3:1; at such a time the people “perish,”…”

“No vision - No prophecy; no publick preaching of God's word. Proverbs 29:19”

“29:18 The wise accept divine guidance from God’s law, the guide to his will.”

“there: Sa1 3:1; Hos 4:6; Amo 8:11, Amo 8:12; Mat 9:36; Rom 10:13-15 perish: or, is made naked, Ch2 28:19 but: Pro 19:16; Psa 19:11, Psa 119:2; Luk 11:28; Joh 13:17, Joh 14:21-23; Jam 1:25; Rev 22:14 Proverbs 29:19”

“18 Without a revelation a people becomes ungovernable; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Regarding the importance of this proverb for estimating the relation of the Chokma to prophecy, vid., vol. i. p. 41. חזון is, according to the sense, equivalent to נבוּאה, the prophetic revelation in itself, and as the contents of that which is proclaimed. Without spiritual preaching, proceeding from spiritual experience, a people is unrestrained (יפּרע, vid., regarding the punctuation at Pro 28:25, and regarding the fundamental meaning, at Pro 1:25); it becomes פּרע, disorderly, Exo 32:25; wild und wst, as Luther translates. But in the second line, according to the unity of the antithesis, the…”