---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Proverbs 18"
description: "CHAPTER 18   :-. 1. Through desire . . . seeketh—that
is, seeks selfish gratification. intermeddleth . . .
wisdom—or, \"rushes on\" ( :-) against all wisdom"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/18"
---

CHAPTER 18

.

**1. Through desire . . . seeketh**—that
is, seeks selfish gratification.
**intermeddleth . . .
wisdom**—or, "rushes on" () against all wisdom, or what is valuable ().

**2. that his heart . . . itself**—that
is, takes pleasure in revealing his folly ([Proverbs 12:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/12/23);
[Proverbs 15:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/2)).

**3.** So surely are sin and
punishment connected ([Proverbs 16:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/4)).
**wicked,** for "wickedness,"
answers to
**ignominy,** or the state of
such; and
**contempt,** the feeling of
others to them; and to
**reproach,** a manifestation
of contempt.

**4.** Wise speech is like an
exhaustless stream of benefit.

**5. accept the person**—(Compare
[Psalms 82:2](../../../kjv/psalms/82/2)). "It is not good"
is to be supplied before "to overthrow."

**6, 7.** The quarrelsome bring
trouble on themselves. Their rash language ensnares them ().

**8.** (Compare ).
**as wounds**—not sustained
by the *Hebrew;* better, as "sweet morsels," which men
gladly swallow.
**innermost . . . belly**—the
mind, or heart (compare [Proverbs 20:27-30](../../../kjv/proverbs/20/27-30);
[Psalms 22:14](../../../kjv/psalms/22/14)).

**9.** One by failing to get, the
other by wasting wealth, grows poor.
**waster**—literally,
"master of washing," a prodigal.

**10. name of the Lord**—manifested
perfections ([Psalms 8:1](../../../kjv/psalms/8/1); [Psalms 20:2](../../../kjv/psalms/20/2)),
as faithfulness, power, mercy, c., on which men rely.
**is safe**—literally, "set
on high, out of danger" ([Psalms 18:2](../../../kjv/psalms/18/2)
[Psalms 91:4](../../../kjv/psalms/91/4)).

**11.** contrasts with (compare [Proverbs 10:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/10/15)).
Such is a vain trust (compare [Proverbs 10:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/10/15)).

**12.** (Compare [Proverbs 15:33](../../../kjv/proverbs/15/33);
[Proverbs 16:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/18)).

**13.** Hasty speech evinces
self-conceit, and ensures shame ().

**14. infirmity**—bodily sickness,
or outward evil. The *spirit,* which sustains, being *wounded,*
no support is left, except, as implied, in God.

**15.** (Compare [Proverbs 1:5](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/5);
[Proverbs 1:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/15); [Proverbs 1:31](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/31)).

**16.** (Compare [Proverbs 17:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/8);
[Proverbs 17:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/23)). Disapproval of the
fact stated is implied.

**17.** One-sided statements are not
reliable.
**searcheth**—thoroughly
([Proverbs 17:9](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/9); [Proverbs 17:19](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/19)).

**18. The lot**—whose disposal is
of God ([Proverbs 16:13](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/13)), may,
properly used, be a right mode of settling disputes.

**19.** No feuds so difficult of
adjustment as those of relatives; hence great care should be used to
avoid them.

**20.** (Compare [Proverbs 12:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/12/14);
[Proverbs 13:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/13/2)). Men's words are the
*fruit,* or, *increase of his lips,* and when good, benefit
them.
**satisfied with**—(Compare
[Proverbs 1:31](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/31); [Proverbs 14:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/14/14)).

**21. Death and life**—or, the
greatest evil and good.
**that love it**—that is,
the tongue, or its use for good or evil.
**eat . . . fruit**—(Compare
[Proverbs 18:19](../../../kjv/proverbs/18/19); [James 1:19](../../../kjv/james/1/19)).

**22.** The old versions supply
"good" before the "wife," as the last clause and
[Proverbs 19:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/19/14) imply (compare [Proverbs 19:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/19/14)).

**23. the rich . . . roughly**—He
is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by
wealth is wrong.

**24. A man . . . friendly**—better,
"A man . . . (is) to, or, may triumph (), or, shout for joy (), that is, may congratulate himself." Indeed, there is
a Friend who is better than a brother; such is the "Friend of
sinners" [[Matthew 11:19](../../../kjv/matthew/11/19);
[Luke 7:34](../../../kjv/luke/7/34)], who may have been
before the writer's mind.

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