---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Proverbs 23"
description: "CHAPTER 23   :-. 1. Avoid the dangers of
gluttony. 2. put a knife—an Eastern
figure for putting restraint on the appetite. 3. are deceitful meat—though
we"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23"
---

CHAPTER 23

.

**1.** Avoid the dangers of
gluttony.

**2. put a knife**—an Eastern
figure for putting restraint on the appetite.

**3. are deceitful meat**—though
well tasted, injurious.

**4, 5.** (Compare [1 Timothy 6:9](../../../kjv/1-timothy/6/9);
[1 Timothy 6:10](../../../kjv/1-timothy/6/10)).
**thine own wisdom**—which
regards riches intrinsically as a blessing.

**5. Wilt . . . eyes**—As the eyes
fly after or seek riches, they are not, that is, either become
transitory or unsatisfying; fully expressed by their flying away.

**6-8.** Beware of deceitful men,
whose courtesies even you will repent of having accepted.
**evil eye**—or purpose
([Proverbs 22:9](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/9); [Deuteronomy 15:9](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/15/9);
[Matthew 6:23](../../../kjv/matthew/6/23)).

**8. The morsel . . . words**—that
is, disgusted with his true character, all pleasant intercourse will
be destroyed.

**9.** (Compare ). "Cast not your pearls before swine" ().

**10, 11.** (Compare [Proverbs 22:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/22);
[Proverbs 22:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/23)).

**11. redeemer**—or avenger
([Leviticus 25:25](../../../kjv/leviticus/25/25); [Leviticus 25:26](../../../kjv/leviticus/25/26);
[Numbers 35:12](../../../kjv/numbers/35/12)), hence advocate ([Numbers 35:12](../../../kjv/numbers/35/12)).
**plead . . . thee**—(Compare
[Job 31:21](../../../kjv/job/31/21); [Psalms 35:1](../../../kjv/psalms/35/1);
[Psalms 68:5](../../../kjv/psalms/68/5)).

**12.** Here begins another series
of precepts.

**13, 14.** While there is little
danger that the use of the "divine ordinance of the rod"
will produce bodily harm, there is great hope of spiritual good.

**15, 16.** The pleasure afforded
the teacher by the pupil's progress is a motive to diligence.

**16. my reins**—(Compare ).

**17, 18.** (Compare *Margin*).
The prosperity of the wicked is short.

**18. an end**—or, "hereafter,"
another time, when apparent inequalities shall be adjusted (compare
[Psalms 37:28-38](../../../kjv/psalms/37/28-38)).

**19-21. guide . . . way**—or
direct thy thoughts to a right course of conduct (compare [Proverbs 4:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/4/4);
[Proverbs 9:6](../../../kjv/proverbs/9/6)).

**20. riotous . . . flesh**—prodigal,
or eating more than necessary. Instead of "their flesh"
(compare *Margin*), better, "flesh to them," that is,
used for pleasure.

**21. drowsiness**—the dreamy
sleep of the slothful.

**22. Hearken**—that is, obey
([Proverbs 1:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/8); [Ephesians 6:1](../../../kjv/ephesians/6/1)).
**despise . . . old**—Adults
revere the parents whom, as children, they once obeyed.

**23. Buy**—literally, "get"
([Proverbs 4:5](../../../kjv/proverbs/4/5)).
**truth**—generally and
specially as opposed to errors of all kinds.

**24, 25.** (Compare [Proverbs 10:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/10/1);
[Proverbs 17:21](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/21); [Proverbs 17:25](../../../kjv/proverbs/17/25)).

**26-35.** A solemn warning against
whoredom and drunkenness ([Hosea 4:11](../../../kjv/hosea/4/11)).
**give me**—This is the
address of that divine wisdom so often presented ([Proverbs 8:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/1);
[Proverbs 9:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/9/3), c.).
**heart**—confidence.
**observe**—keep.
**my ways**—such as I teach
you ([Proverbs 3:17](../../../kjv/proverbs/3/17) [Proverbs 9:6](../../../kjv/proverbs/9/6)).

**27, 28. deep ditch**—a narrow
pit, out of which it is hard to climb.
**lieth in wait**—to
ensnare men into the pit, as hunters entrap game (compare ).

**28. increaseth . . . transgressors**—
([Proverbs 5:8-10](../../../kjv/proverbs/5/8-10)). The vice
alluded to is peculiarly hardening to the heart.

**29, 30.** This picture is often
sadly realized now.
**mixed wine**—(Compare
[Proverbs 9:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/9/2); [Isaiah 5:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/5/11)).

**31. when . . . red**—the color
denoting greater strength (compare [Genesis 49:11](../../../kjv/genesis/49/11);
[Deuteronomy 32:14](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/14)).
**giveth . . . cup**—literally,
"gives its eye," that is, sparkles.
**moveth . . . aright**—Perhaps
its foaming is meant.

**32.** The acute miseries resulting
from drunkenness contrasted with the temptations.

**33, 34.** The moral effects: it
inflames passion ([Genesis 19:31](../../../kjv/genesis/19/31);
[Genesis 19:35](../../../kjv/genesis/19/35)), lays open the heart,
produces insensibility to the greatest dangers, and debars from
reformation, under the severest sufferings.

**35. awake**—that is, from
drunkenness ([Genesis 9:24](../../../kjv/genesis/9/24)). This is
the language rather of acts than of the tongue.

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Proverbs 23"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Proverbs 23","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"CHAPTER 23   :-. 1. Avoid the dangers of\ngluttony. 2. put a knife—an Eastern\nfigure for putting restraint on the appetite. 3. are deceitful meat—though\nwe","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","name":"Commentaries"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs","name":"Proverbs"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/proverbs/23","name":"23"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]}
```