John Gill Commentary Proverbs 14

Every wise woman builds her house

Not only by her fruitfulness, as Leah and Rachel built up the house of Israel; but by her good housewifery, prudent economy; looking well to the ways of her household; guiding the affairs of her house with discretion; keeping all things in a good decorum; and bringing up her children in virtue, and in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

So Christ, who in this book goes by the name of "Wisdom", or the wise woman, builds his house upon himself, the Rock; and all his people on their most holy faith, by means of the ministry of the word, and administration of ordinances: he guides and governs his house, where he is, as a Son in it and over it; and of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, taken care of, and wisely and plentifully provided for.

And so Gospel ministers, who are wise to win souls, being well instructed in the kingdom of God; these "wise women" ^F25 , so it is in the original text, or wise virgins; these wise master builders lay the foundation Christ ministerially, and build souls on it; and speak things to the edification of the church and people of God, and the building of them up in faith and holiness.

but the foolish plucks it down with her hands ;

the Vulgate Latin version adds, "being built"; this she does by her idleness and laziness; by her lavish and profuse way of living; by her negligence and want of economy; by her frequenting playhouses, and attention to other diversions; and so her family and the affairs of it go to wreck and ruin.

Thus the apostate church of Rome, who is called a "woman", and may be said to be a "foolish" one, being a wicked one and a harlot; see (Revelation 17:2Revelation 17:3) ; pulls down the true church and house of God with both hands, as much as in her lies, by her false doctrines, and superstitious worship and idolatry; and by her murders and massacres of the saints, with the blood of whom she is said to be drunk; nay, not only pulls it down with her hands, but treads upon it with her feet, (Revelation 11:2) .

So likewise all false teachers do as this foolish woman does, by their impure lives and impious doctrines, defile the temple of God, subvert the faith of many; by means of whom the tabernacle of David, or house of God, is fallen down; the ruins and breaches of which Christ will repair in the latter day.

FOOTNOTES:

• F25: (Myvn twmkx) "sapientes mulieres", Munster, Baynus; so the Septuagint and Arabic versions.

He that walks in his uprightness fears the Lord It is plain that the fear of the Lord is upon the heart and before the eyes of such that walk according to the word of God, with a sincere desire to glorify him; for it is by the fear of the Lord that men depart from evil, and because of that they cannot do what others do; and therefore when a man walks uprightly, and his conversation is in all holiness and godliness, it shows that the fear of God has a place in his heart, which influences his outward behaviour;

but [he that is] perverse in his ways despises him ; either God himself, whom the upright walker fears; for he that acts perversely, contrary to the law of God, or transgresses that, and goes out of the way, despises God the lawgiver, tramples upon his authority, stretches out his hand, and commits acts of hostility against him; and he that perverts the Gospel of Christ despises his ministers, and despises Christ himself, and him that sent him. Or else the meaning is, that such a perverse walker despises him that fears the Lord; so Aben Ezra interprets it; and such are generally the contempt of wicked men: to this sense is the Vulgate Latin version, ``he that walks in a right way, and fears God, is despised by him that walks in an infamous way;'' but the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "is despised": meaning the perverse man.

In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride
A proud tongue, or a tongue speaking proud and haughty things; with which foolish or wicked men smite others and wound and hurt their reputation and credit, and in the issue hurt themselves also; their tongue is not only a rod to others, but a scourge to themselves, or is the cause of evil coming upon them; such was the tongue of Pharaoh, as Jarchi on the place observes, (Exodus 5:2); and of those the psalmist speaks of, (Psalms 73:9); and particularly of antichrist, whose mouth is opened in blasphemies against God, and his tabernacle, and his saints, (Revelation 13:5Revelation 13:6).

but the lips of the wise shall preserve them ; from speaking such proud and haughty things against God and men; or from being hurt by the tongues of men or their own; yea, what coaxes out of their mouth is confounding and destructive to their enemies, (Revelation 11:5).

Where no oxen [are] the crib [is] clean
Or "empty" ^F26, so Jarchi and Aben Ezra. Oxen were used in Judea in several parts of husbandry; in ploughing the land, bringing home the corn, and in threshing or treading it out, (Deuteronomy 22:10) (25:4) . Now where these are not, or not used, where husbandry is neglected, there is no straw in the crib for beasts, and much less food for men; or rather, no corn or "wheat" ^F1 on the "threshingfloor" ^F2, or in the barn, granary, or storehouse; for so the same word is rendered, (Jeremiah 50:26) ; and in this manner it is interpreted by Gersom here, as also by Kimchi ^F3: the word translated "clean" is used for "wheat", (Amos 8:5) . By supplying the negative particle, the whole may be rendered thus; "where no oxen are, the threshingfloor", "granary", or storehouse, "is without wheat"; or there is no wheat "on the floor", or "in the barn" the note of Jarchi on the text is,

``where there are no scholars of the wise men, there is no instruction in the constitutions.''

But much better is the mystical sense, thus; that where there are no ministers of the Gospel, there is no food for souls. Oxen are an emblem of faithful and laborious ministers. The ox was one of the emblems in the cherubim, which design Gospel ministers; the names by which oxen are called agree with them. Here are two words used of them in the text; the one comes from a root which signifies to "teach", "lead", "guide", and "govern"; and the same word for "oxen" signifies "teachers", "leaders", "guides", and "governors"; names which most properly belong to ministers of the word: the other word comes from a root which signifies to "see", to "look"; because these creatures are sharp sighted. Ministers are seers, overseers, and as John's living creatures in (Revelation 4:6) ; one of which was an ox, were full of eyes, within, and before, and behind. So ministers of the word had need to have good sight, to look into the Scriptures, and search them; to look to themselves and to their flock, and to look out to discover enemies, and danger by them; and to look into their own experience, and into things both past and to come.

There is a likeness in ministers to these creatures, as to the nature of them; they are clean, creatures, as such should be that minister in holy things; and chew the cud, as such should revolve in their minds and constantly meditate upon divine things; and, like them, are patient and quiet under the yoke; and are not only strong to labour, but very laborious in the word and doctrine; submit to the yoke, draw the plough of the Gospel; bring home souls to Christ, to his church, and to heaven; and tread out the corn, the mysteries of grace, out of the sacred writings.

Now where there are no such laborious and diligent ministers of the word, as there are none in the apostate church of Rome, there is no spiritual food for the souls of men; but a famine of the word, and men perish for lack of knowledge;

but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox ;
as there is a large increase of the fruits of the earth, through the tillage of it by proper instruments; as by the strong and laborious ox, whose strength is employed in ploughing the ground ^F4 and treading the corn; which is put for all means of husbandry, where that is used or not: so through the unwearied labours of Gospel ministers, the blessing of God attending them, there is much spiritual food; see (Proverbs 13:23) . There is an increase of converts, a harvest of souls is brought in; and an increase of gifts and of grace, and of spiritual light and knowledge, and plenty of provisions; which spiritual increase, through the ministry of the word, is owing to God, (1 Corinthians 3:6 1 Corinthians 3:7) .

FOOTNOTES:

• F26: (rb) "vacuum", V. L. Munster, Pagninus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Amama; so the Syriac version.
• F1: "Triticum", Baynus.
• F2: (owba) "area", Gussetius, p. 14. Michaelis, Schultens.
• F3: Sepher Shorash. rad (oba) & R. Joseph Kimchi in Abendana in loc.
• F4: "Fortis arat valido rusticus arva bove", Tibullus, l. 2. Eleg. 2. v. 14.

A faithful witness will not lie
For that would be contrary to his character as faithful; and as he will not witness to a falsehood upon oathin a court of judicature, so neither will he tell a lie in common conversation.

This may be applied to Gospelministers, who are witnesses of Christ; the Gospel they preach is a testimony concerning him, and they bear afaithful witness to the truth; nor will they, knowingly and willingly, deliver out a falsehood, or adoctrinal lie, since "no lie is of the truth", (1 John 2:21) ; the character of a faithful witness is givento Christ, (Revelation 1:5) (3:14) ; who is a "witness" of his father's love and grace, of his mind andwill, and of the doctrines of the Gospel relating to himself, and the method of salvation by him; and he is"faithful" to him that appointed him; nor can he nor will he lie, for he is "truth" itself;

but afalse witness will utter lies ;
or "blow" ^F5 them out, and spread them abroad in great plenty; he will not stick to tell them,and, having no conscience, will utter them as fast as he can, with all boldness and confidence; for one thatfears not to bear testimony to a falsehood upon oath, will not scruple to lie in common talk.

Or the words,"nay" be rendered, "he that uttereth lies [will be] a false witness"; he that accustoms himself to lying, inhis conversation with men in private company, will become a false witness upon occasion in a public court ofjudicature: such an one is not to be depended on; lesser sins lead to greater, lying to perjury. So falseteachers, and the followers of the man of sin, speak lies in hypocrisy, doctrinal ones, which they are givenup to believe; and such as do so are false witnesses, deceivers, and antichrist.

FOOTNOTES:

• F5: (xypy) "efflabit", Montanus; "efflat", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.