---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "Better. See note on Proverbs 8:11 .  sacrifices = slain beasts. Hebrew.  zebach. App-43 .  the LORD. Hebrew.  Jehovah. App-4 .  trieth the hearts. Illust"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/proverbs/17"
---

**Better.** See note on [Proverbs 8:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/11) .
**sacrifices** = slain beasts. Hebrew. *zebach.* App-43 .

**the LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah.* App-4 .
**trieth the hearts.** Illustrations: Abraham ([Genesis 22:1](../../../kjv/genesis/22/1) ); Israel ([Deuteronomy 8:2](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/8/2) ); Hezekiah ([2 Chronicles 32:31](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/31) ); Martha and Mary ([John 11:5](../../../kjv/john/11/5) , [John 11:6](../../../kjv/john/11/6) ); young man ([Matthew 19:16-22](../../../kjv/matthew/19/16-22) ); woman ([Matthew 15:23-28](../../../kjv/matthew/15/23-28) ).

**wicked** = mischief maker. Hebrew. *ra'a'.* App-44 .
**liar.** Hebrew "lie". Text not "corrupt"; but "lie "is put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Effect), App-6 , for the man who habitually lies: i.e. a liar is always ready to believe a lie. Illustrations: Ahab ([1 Kings 22:6](../../../kjv/1-kings/22/6) ); Jews ([Isaiah 30:9-11](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/9-11) .[Jeremiah 5:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/30) , [Jeremiah 5:31](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/31) .[Micah 2:11](../../../kjv/micah/2/11); [Micah 2:11](../../../kjv/micah/2/11) ).

**mocketh.** Illustrations: princes of Judah ([Isaiah 3:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/14) , [Isaiah 3:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/15) ; [Isaiah 10:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/1) , [Isaiah 10:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/2) .[Jeremiah 34:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/34/10) , [Jeremiah 34:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/34/11) ); rich ([James 5:4](../../../kjv/james/5/4) ).
**the poor** = a needy one. Hebrew. *rush.* See note on [Proverbs 6:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/6/11) .
**Maker.** See note on [Proverbs 14:31](../../../kjv/proverbs/14/31) .
**unpunished** = held guiltless. Illustrations: Tyrians ([Ezekiel 26:2-6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/26/2-6) ); Edom ([Obadiah 1:10-15](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/10-15) ).

**Children's** = Sons'.

**speech.** Hebrew "lip", put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Cause), App-6 , for what is spoken by it.
**fool.** Hebrew. *nabal.* See note on [Proverbs 1:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/7) . Not the same word as in verses: [Proverbs 17:10](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/10) , [Proverbs 17:12](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/12) , [Proverbs 17:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/16) , [Proverbs 10:24](../../../kjv/proverbs/10/24) , [Proverbs 10:25](../../../kjv/proverbs/10/25) .
**lips.** See above note.

**him that hath it** = its owner (the bribed, not the briber).
**prospereth** = it sparkles. And he loves to look at it and keep it. Compare "gift", [Proverbs 17:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/23) .

**transgression.** Hebrew. *pasha'.* App-44 .
**very friends** = true friends.

**wise man.** Hebrew. *binah.* See note on [Proverbs 1:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/2) .
**fool.** Hebrew. *kesil* . See note on [Proverbs 1:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/7) .

**evil** = evil worker. Same word as "wicked", [Proverbs 17:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/4) .

**a bear** = a he-bear (masculine because it is always construed with a masculine verb).
**her whelps** = his mate.
**man.** Hebrew. *'ish.* App-14 .
**folly.** Hebrew. *'evil.* See note on [Proverbs 1:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/7) .

**beginning of strife.** Illustrations: Ephraimites ([Judges 12:1-6](../../../kjv/judges/12/1-6) ); Abner ([2 Samuel 2:14-17](../../../kjv/2-samuel/2/14-17) ); Rehoboam ([2 Chronicles 10:1-16](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/10/1-16) ); Jeroboam ([2 Chronicles 13:17](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/13/17) ); the Twelve ([Matthew 20:24](../../../kjv/matthew/20/24) ).
**when one letteth out** = the letting loose (as by making a breach in a dam).
**be meddled with** = gathereth volume.

**justifieth the wicked, &c.** Illustrations: the counsellors ([Ezra 4:1-16](../../../kjv/ezra/4/1-16) ); Tertullus ([Acts 24:1-9](../../../kjv/acts/24/1-9) ); Ahab and Jezebel ([1 Kings 21:5-24](../../../kjv/1-kings/21/5-24) ). Note the Figure of speech *Paronomasia* ( App-6 ). *Mazdik rasha' umarshia' zadik,* which may be Englished, "he who wrongs the right and rights the wrong".
**the wicked** = a lawless one. Hebrew. *rasha'.* App-44 .
**the just** = a just one.
**abomination, &c.** See note on [Proverbs 3:32](../../../kjv/proverbs/3/32) .

**Wherefore is there a price, &c.** = Why is this ready money in the hand of a fool to get wisdom when he has no sense? Illustrations: Israel ([2 Chronicles 30:10](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/30/10) ); the Jews ([Luke 4:28](../../../kjv/luke/4/28) ); Herod Antipas ([Luke 23:11](../../../kjv/luke/23/11) ); Jews ([John 5:40](../../../kjv/john/5/40) ; [John 8:45](../../../kjv/john/8/45) ); Athenians ([Acts 17:32](../../../kjv/acts/17/32) , [Acts 17:33](../../../kjv/acts/17/33) ); Felix ([Acts 24:25-27](../../../kjv/acts/24/25-27) ); Agrippa ([Acts 26:28](../../../kjv/acts/26/28) ).
**wisdom.** Hebrew. *chakmah.* See note on [Proverbs 1:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/2) .
**heart.** Put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Subject), App-6 , for the sense in it.

**loveth at all times.** Illustrations: Abraham ([Genesis 14:14](../../../kjv/genesis/14/14) . Compare [Proverbs 13:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/13/11) ); Joseph ([Genesis 45:5](../../../kjv/genesis/45/5) ; [Genesis 50:21](../../../kjv/genesis/50/21) ); Moses ([Exodus 32:11-13](../../../kjv/exodus/32/11-13) .[Deuteronomy 9:18](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/9/18) , [Deuteronomy 9:25-29](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/9/25-29) . Compare [Acts 7:40](../../../kjv/acts/7/40) ); Jonathan ([1 Samuel 20:33](../../../kjv/1-samuel/20/33) ); Barzillai ([2 Samuel 19:32](../../../kjv/2-samuel/19/32) ); Ahikam ([Jeremiah 26:24](../../../kjv/jeremiah/26/24) ); Ebed-melech ([Jeremiah 38:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/38/7) ); Paul ([Philemon 1:12](../../../kjv/philemon/1/12) , [Philemon 1:20](../../../kjv/philemon/1/20) ); Barnabas ([Acts 9:27](../../../kjv/acts/9/27) ); Aristarchus ([Acts 19:29](../../../kjv/acts/19/29) ; [Acts 20:4](../../../kjv/acts/20/4) ; [Acts 27:2](../../../kjv/acts/27/2) .[Philemon 1:24](../../../kjv/philemon/1/24) .[Colossians 4:10](../../../kjv/colossians/4/10); [Colossians 4:10](../../../kjv/colossians/4/10) ); Luke ([2 Timothy 4:11](../../../kjv/2-timothy/4/11) ); Epaphroditus ([Philippians 1:2](../../../kjv/philippians/1/2) , [Philippians 1:26](../../../kjv/philippians/1/26) ).

**man.** Hebrew. *'adam.* App-14 .
**understanding.** Hebrew "heart", put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Cause), App-6 , for the understanding in it. See note on [Proverbs 1:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/2) .

**he that exalteth his gate, &c.** : i.e. a rich man, who thus proclaimed his wealth (Eastern doors being generally low-pitched and uninviting),
**courted destruction.** This explains [2 Kings 25:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/25/9) , where "every great man's house he (Nebuchadnezzar) burnt with fire".

**fool.** Hebrew. *nabal,* as in [Proverbs 17:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/1) .

**spirit.** Hebrew. *ruach.* App-9 .

**gift** = bribe. Compare [Proverbs 17:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/8) . This is the act of the briber, not the bribed.
**bosom** = lap. See note on [Proverbs 16:33](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/33) .

**before** = is the goal of.

**spareth his words.** Illustrations: Aaron ([Leviticus 10:3](../../../kjv/leviticus/10/3) ); Moses ([Numbers 16:4](../../../kjv/numbers/16/4) ; [Numbers 20:6](../../../kjv/numbers/20/6) ); Samuel ([1 Samuel 8:6-8](../../../kjv/1-samuel/8/6-8) ); Christ ([1 Peter 2:23](../../../kjv/1-peter/2/23) ).
**understandings discerning.** Hebrew. *binah.* See note on [Proverbs 1:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/2) .
**excellent** = quiet.

**fool.** Hebrew. *'evil,* as in verses: [Proverbs 17:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/16) , [Proverbs 17:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/22) . See note on [Proverbs 1:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/7) .
**understandings** = wisdom (i.e. a wise man).

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