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Proverbs 29 opens with a striking image. "The one who stiffens his neck." Let's begin by looking at the Hebrew text. אִישׁ תּוֹכָחוֹת מַקְשֶׁה־עֹרֶף (Ish Tokhachot Maqsheh Oref) אִישׁ　 　　(Ish) — a man, a person תּוֹכָחוֹת　 　　(Tokhachot) — reproofs, correction, rebukes מַקְשֶׁה　 　　(Maqsheh) — one who hardens, one who makes hard עֹרֶף　 　　(Oref) — neck, the back of the neck 　　 The verb מַקְשֶׁה is a Hiphil participle. It does not describe someone whose neck has simply become sti

This chapter contains many verses that speak about ourselves. For example, Do not boast about tomorrow. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth. Your own heart. Your own flock. More than anything else, the chapter seems to focus on how we relate to ourselves. Let's take a look at the Hebrew text of verse 1. (Al-tithallel be-yom maḥar) אַל־תִּתְהַלֵּל בְּיוֹם מָחָר 「Do not boast about tomorrow.」 (Ki lo teda mah yeled yom) כִּי לֹא־תֵדַע מַה־יֵּלֶד יוֹם 「For you do not k

Proverbs 26 begins with a long series about the fool (verses 1–11). One of the most interesting parts is verses 4 and 5. 「Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will become like him.(v.4)」 「Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. (v.5)」 "Do not answer." "Answer." These two seemingly contradictory commands stand side by side. From the very beginning, wisdom cannot be reduced to a simple rule or formula. It reminds me of

“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He pleases.” 　　　　　　　(Proverbs 21:1) A king appears. A king who moves the world. Yet the text does not first draw our attention to the king’s power. It draws our attention to the king’s heart. Let’s take a look at the Hebrew. A Closer Look at the First Half🔍 פַּלְגֵי־מַיִם לֶב־מֶלֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהוָה (Palgē-Mayim Lev-Melekh BeYad Adonai) “Like water channels, the king’s heart is in the hand

“Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.” 　　　　　　　　(Proverbs 19:1) טוֹב־רָשׁ הוֹלֵךְ בְּתֻמּוֹ (Tov-rash holekh betummo) מֵעִקֵּשׁ שְׂפָתָיו וְהוּא כְסִיל (Me‘iqqesh sefataiv vehu kesil) 　　　※Hebrew is read from right to left. Let's take a closer look at the first half. טוֹב (tov) Good, better, desirable. רָשׁ (rash) A poor person, one who lacks. הוֹלֵךְ (holekh) One who walks, one who keeps walking. (From the root ה

“The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.” 　　　　　　　(Proverbs 16:1, KJV) After the chapter on words in Proverbs 15, the landscape changes slightly. Throughout Proverbs 16, we repeatedly encounter people thinking about their own way. “The preparations of the heart in man...” (Proverbs 16:1) “A man's heart deviseth his way...” (Proverbs 16:9) “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes...” (Proverbs 16:2) Yet the chapter tel

“The wise woman builds her house” — בָּנְתָה (bāntāh) 　　　　　Root: בָּנָה (bānāh)　 Meaning: to build, to establish, to raise up, to build a household, to establish a family line. “But the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands” — תֶהֶרְסֶנּוּ (tehersennū) 　　　　　Root: הָרַס (hāras)　 Meaning: to tear down, to demolish, to destroy, to break apart. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” 　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　(Proverbs 15:4) Proverbs 15 is a chapter about words. From its opening lines: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, KJV) Again and again, the chapter speaks of the tongue, mouth, lips, answer, and speaking. Yet more than words themselves, we begin to see the heart behind them. “The heart of the righteous studieth to ans

As we walk through Proverbs 13, we come upon a tree standing near the middle of the chapter. The Tree of Life. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” 　　　　　　　(Proverbs 13:12) Proverbs 13 is filled with sayings drawn from everyday life. Guarding one's mouth. Diligence. Disciplining a child. Riches and poverty. Yet in the midst of these familiar themes, the Tree of Life suddenly appears. The phrase “Tree of Life” (עֵץ חַיִּים) appears fou

In Proverbs 1–9, the pages are filled with a father's voice. “Walk in this way.” “Do not go down that path.” “Listen to the voice of wisdom.” When we come to Proverbs 10, everyday life begins to come into view after hearing the father's instruction. Proverbs 11 takes this a step further. Its short contrasts are arranged almost like a collection of sayings. The righteous and the wicked. The contrast appears again and again. Compared with chapter 10, Proverbs 11 reveals how wha