The Study of Proverbs
18:15-24
This section of the proverbs gives us wisdom and instructions to help decide or judge a matter. Decisions
often involve two opposing sides and Solomon gives instructions to help with this as well. This whole
chapter deals with having healthy relationships – in the family and in the community. Our words and our
decision making process determine a lot in this.
Wisdom in relationships 15-24
(15) Do you want to know? The prudent acquire knowledge and the wise seek knowledge. This could be
seen as gaining knowledge in their personal growth and/or getting knowledge to make decisions in
situations they find themselves in. In that case it would compliment verse 13.
(16) Bring a gift with you - People will welcome a person who bears a gift for them. This is not seen as a
bribe as in 17:23.
(17) Both sides - Make sure you hear both sides of an issue before coming to a conclusion or judgment.
Again, this verse correlates with vv. 13 and 15.
(18) Whose side are you on? Casting lots would take personal bias out of a decision. This would help to
ease tensions. It also could have brought God’s decision into the matter (16:33).
(19) Family feud - Family/relative conflicts are very difficult to settle. It is wisdom to try to prevent
them.
Concerning the remaining verses, John Phillips writes, “If we are to live satisfied lives, we need to tame
the tongue, win a wife, mind the mouth, and find a friend.” (Exploring Proverbs, Vol.1, p.567) Look at these
verses:
(20) How does that taste? The word “stomach” is a figure of speech representing the man himself.
When you swallow something, you live with the consequences. When we say something, we live with
the consequences.
(21) The power of the tongue – The tongue has the power through words to bring about life and death.
Solomon says a man can benefit from “its fruit.” The greatest way to give life through words is to share
the good news of Jesus Christ.
(22) In search of a wife – God said in Genesis 2:18 “It is not good that man should be alone.” Solomon
asserts the same truth and says the man also “obtains favor from the LORD” when he finds a wife.
Marriage is still God’s design in society. The Apostle Paul mentions the gift of singleness from God in I
Corinthians 7:7. God has given this to some.
(23) Some people of wealth become bullies while the poor speak with humility. Some of the rich do not
need favors from others so they do not care how they treat them.
(24) Would you be my friend? To have friends you must be friendly. Some people “never meet a
stranger.” Why is that? They show themselves friendly to everyone they meet. Then, some people are
hard to be around and they wonder why they have no friends.
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Proverbs Lesson 31
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* You may have a translation that reads with a different interpretation. Listen to the Believer’s Bible
Commentary: Here again we have a proverb with many interpretations. A man who has friends
must himself be friendly. If we follow the KJV and NKJV, the thought is that friendliness wins
friends, and that some friends are closer than others.
The NASB, ASV, NKJV margin, and JND say that a man who has many friends will come to
ruin, but that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. This means that it is better to
have one true friend than a host of friends who will lead you astray.
The RSV reads, “There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks
closer than a brother.” This presents a contrast between fair-weather friends and those who are
loyal through thick and thin.1
They go on to say that most versions agree on the second line: “But there is a friend who sticks closer
than a brother.” Not in this context but in all truth, we know that Jesus is the ultimate example of this.
A little extra on Humility and Pride:
Proverbs is direct and forceful in rejecting pride. The proud attitude heads the list of seven things God
hates (6:16,17).
Results of:
Humility
Pride
Scripture
Leads to wisdom
Leads to disgrace
11:2
Takes advice
Produces quarrels
13:10
Leads to honor
15:33
Leads to punishment 16:5
Leads to destruction
16:18
Ends in honor
Ends in downfall
18:12
Brings one to honor
Brings one low
29:23
The harmful results of pride are constantly contrasted with humility and its benefits.
* Source: Life Application Study Bible, NKJV, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, 1996, p.1111
KJV King James Version
NKJV New King James Version
NASB New American Standard Bible
ASV American Standard Version
JND John Nelson Darby’s New Translation
RSV Revised Standard Version
1MacDonald,
William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson,
1997, c1995, S. Pr 18:24
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Proverbs Lesson 31
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