---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Proverbs 17:1. Better is a dry morsel — Peace and contentment, and especially domestic peace, are beyond all other blessings. A house full of sacrif"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/proverbs/17"
---

Verse [Proverbs 17:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/1). ***Better*****is*****a dry morsel*** — Peace and contentment, and especially *domestic peace*, are beyond all other blessings.
***A house full of sacrifices*** — A Hindoo priest, who officiates at a festival, sometimes receives so many *offerings* that *his house is* *filled with them*, so that many of them are damaged before they can be used.-*Ward*.

Verse [Proverbs 17:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/3). ***The fining pot*****is*****for silver*** — When *silver* is *mixed*, or suspected to be mixed, with *base metal*, it must be subjected to such a test as the *cupel* to purify it. And gold also must be purified by the action of the *fire*. So God tries hearts. He sends afflictions which penetrate the soul, and give a man to see his state, so that he may apply to the *spirit of judgment* and *the* *spirit of burning*, to destroy what cannot stand the fire, to separate and burn up all the dross.

Verse [Proverbs 17:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/4). ***A wicked doer giveth heed*** — An evil heart is disposed and ever ready to receive evil; and liars delight in lies.

Verse [Proverbs 17:5](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/5). ***He that is glad at calamity*** — He who is pleased to hear of the misfortune of another will, in the course of God's just government, have his own multiplied.

Verse [Proverbs 17:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/7). ***Excellent speech becometh not a fool*** — This proverb is suitable to those who affect, in public speaking, fine language, which neither comports with their ordinary conversation, nor with their education. Often *fine words* are injudiciously brought in, and are as unbecoming and irrelevant as a cart wheel among clockwork.

Verse [Proverbs 17:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/8). ***A gift*****is as*****a precious stone*** — It both enriches and ornaments. In the latter clause there is an evident allusion to *cut stones*. Whithersoever you *turn them*, they *reflect the light*, are *brilliant* and *beautiful*.

Verse [Proverbs 17:10](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/10). ***A reproof entereth more*** — Though the rod, judiciously applied, is a *great instrument of knowledge*, yet it is of no use where incurable dulness or want of intellect, prevails. Besides, there are *generous dispositions* on which *counsel* will work more than stripes.

Verse [Proverbs 17:12](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/12). ***Let a bear robbed of her whelps*** — At which times such animals are peculiarly fierce. [2 Samuel 17:8](../../../kjv/2-samuel/17/8).

Verse [Proverbs 17:13](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/13). ***Whoso rewardeth evil for good*** — Here is a most awful warning. As many persons are guilty of the sin of *ingratitude*, and of paying *kindness* with *unkindness*, and *good* with *evil*, it is no wonder we find so much *wretchedness* among men; for God's word cannot fail; evil shall not depart from the houses and families of such persons.

Verse [Proverbs 17:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/14). ***The beginning of strife*****is as*****when one letteth out**********water*** — As soon as the smallest breach is made in the dike or dam, the water begins to *press* from all parts *towards the breach*; the resistance becomes too great to be successfully opposed, so that dikes and all are speedily swept away. Such is the beginning of contentions, quarrels, lawsuits, &c.
***Leave off contention, before it be meddled with.*** — As you see what an altercation must lead to, therefore do not begin it. Before it be *mingled together*, התגלע hithgalla, before the spirits of the contending parties come into conflict - are joined together in battle, and begin to deal out mutual reflections and reproaches. When you see that the dispute is likely to take this turn, leave it off immediately.

Verse [Proverbs 17:17](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/17). ***A friend loveth at all times*** — Equally in *adversity* as in *prosperity*. And a *brother*, according to the ties and interests of consanguinity, is *born* to support and comfort a *brother* in *distress*.

Verse [Proverbs 17:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/18). ***Striketh hands*** — *Striking* each other's hands, or *shaking hands*, was anciently the *form* in concluding a contract. [Proverbs 6:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/6/1).

Verse [Proverbs 17:19](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/19). ***He that exalteth his gate*** — In different parts of Palestine they are obliged to have the doors of their courts and houses *very low*, not more than *three* feet high, to prevent the Arabs, who scarcely ever leave the backs of their horses, from *riding into the courts and houses*, and spoiling their goods. He, then, who, through pride and ostentation, made a *high gate*, exposed himself to *destruction*; and is said here to *seek it*, because he must know that this would be a necessary consequence of *exalting his gate*. But although the above is a fact, yet possibly *gate* is here taken for the *mouth*; and the *exalting of the gate* may mean proud boasting and arrogant speaking, such as has a tendency to kindle and maintain strife. And this interpretation seems to agree better with the scope of the context than the above.

Verse [Proverbs 17:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/22). ***A merry heart doeth good*****like*****a medicine*** — Instead of גהה *gehah*, a *medicine*, it appears that the *Chaldee* and *Syriac* had read in their copies גוה *gevah*, the body, as they translate in this way. This makes the apposition here more complete: "A merry heart doeth good to the *body*; but a broken spirit drieth the *bones*." Nothing has such a direct tendency to ruin health and waste out life as grief, anxiety, fretfulness, bad tempers, &c. All these work *death*.

Verse [Proverbs 17:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/23). ***A gift out of the bosom*** — Out of his *purse*; as in their *bosoms*, above their girdles, the Asiatics carry their *purses*. I have often observed this.

Verse [Proverbs 17:24](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/24). **Are*****in the ends of the earth.*** — Wisdom is within the *sight* and *reach* at every man: but he whose *desires* are scattered abroad, who is always aiming at impossible things, or is of an unsteady disposition, is not likely to find it.

Verse [Proverbs 17:26](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/26). **Nor*****to strike princes for equity.*** — To fall out with the ruler of the people, and to take off his head under pretence of his not being a *just* or *equitable governor*, is *unjust*. To kill a king on the ground of justice is a most dreadful omen to any land. Where was it ever done, that it promoted the *public* *prosperity*? No experiment of this kind has ever yet succeeded, howsoever worthless the king might be.

Verse [Proverbs 17:28](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/28). ***Even a fool*** — He is counted wise *as to that particular*. He may know that he cannot speak well, and he has sense enough to keep from speaking. He is, as to that particular, a wise fool.
A man may be *golden-mouthed* and *silver-tongued* in eloquence; but to know *when* and *where* to *speak* and to be *silent*, is better than *diamonds*. But who that thinks he can speak well can refrain from speaking? His tongue has no rest.

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