Proverbial Insights into Proverbs
A Proverb is a short saying that is widely used to express an obvious truth.
1). Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Also Proverbs 9:10 The word fear in Hebrew in this context means “reverence.”[1] The English word “fear” carries a sense of being afraid. In most Biblical references the word fear means to have an “awe” as in the hymn “How Great Thou Art…O lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made.” There is a Hebrew word for being afraid or terrorized. It is found in verse 26 of chapter one. “I will mock when your fear cometh.”[2] However when speaking of the “fear of the Lord” the word fear has more to do with “respect, awe and reverence.” The phrase “fear not” means “respect not, reverence not and don’t pay attention to them.” There were 21 Hebrew words translated into the English word fear. Those 21 words for fear are found 316 times in the Old Testament.[3] 297 of them deal with reverence, respect, awe and other positive connotations. Whenever you run into the phrase “fear the Lord” substitute the words “Respect the Lord.”
2). Proverb 1:23. Turn you at my reproof. There is no specific word in Hebrew for repent. Instead the Hebrews used the word “turn.” Pronounced [Shuwb][4] found three times. In this context it means turn away from iniquity. The Prophet Isaiah would cry, “Turn from transgression!” 19 times the word “Nâcham” was used in translating the KJV. Nâcham means to sign or breathe deeply as in disappointment. Joseph Smith changed every reference from God repenting to the people who needed to repent.
3). Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thy own understanding. The word trust in this verse means “to find safe refuge.”
4). Proverbs 3:12. For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth. Here the word “correcteth” means to help “be right.”
5). Proverbs 4:7. With all thy getting get understanding. The idea is to “correctly perceive a situation.”
6). Proverbs 5:3-5. What are “the lips of a strange woman?” Someone out of the “Covenant.”
7). Proverbs 6:16-19. These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
8). Proverbs 7:2. Keep my commandments and live; and my law as the apple “Pupil” of thine eye.
9). Proverbs 7:27. Her house is the way to hell. About whom doeth he speak?
10). Proverbs 8:22-32. When he prepared the heavens I was there. Premortal existence.
11). Proverbs 10:26. As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. What is a sluggard? A lazy bum who sleeps all day.
12). Proverbs 11:14. Where no counsel is the people fall: but in the multitude of counsels, there is safety.
13). Proverbs 11:22. As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair [beautiful] woman [or person] without discretion. Beauty is only skin deep.
14). Proverbs 12:4. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.
15). Proverbs 13:24. He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. D&C 121:43 Betimes means rarely and when appropriate. What is the rule of thumb?
16). Proverbs 15:1. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
17: Proverbs 15:13. A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance. What is countenance?
18). Proverbs 16:18. Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Haughty means self-exalted.
19). Proverbs 17:5. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his maker. Offends God.
18). Proverbs 18:19. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city.
19). Proverbs 18:22 [JST] Whoso findeth a good wife hath obtained favor of the Lord.
- Proverbs 21:9. It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a brawling woman in a wide house. Brawling means quarrelling, whether it is a man or a woman. See also Proverbs 21:19
21). Proverbs 22:1. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. [George Albert Smith].
22). Proverbs 22:6. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This means that they may depart between their youth and old age but they will come back.
23). Proverbs 22:24. Make no friendship with an angry man.
24). Proverbs 23:7. For as he thinketh in his heart so is he. Hebrews think in their hearts and feel in their bowels. See 3 Nephi 17:6, “My bowels are filled with compassion towards you.”
25). Proverbs 24:16. For a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again.
26). Proverbs 25:11. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Fitly means “suitably proper.”
27). Proverbs 26:20. Where no wood is the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer the strife ceaseth.
28). Proverbs 27:2. Let another man praise thee and not thine own mouth.
29). Proverbs 29:2. When the wicked beareth rule the people mourn.
30). Proverbs 31:1-31. Sisters read the verse that corresponds to your birthday below.
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes, strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
[1] Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary #3372 = “to be had in reverence”+3374 = “Reverence.”
[2] Ibid #6343 = “Sudden alarm or fear and dread.”
[3] Those 21 words are carry the meaning of alarm, dread, twisting, pitiful, tremble, crushed, frightful, shuddering, heaviness, sorrow, slinking, reverence, revere, turn aside, turn one’s face, look inward, respect. Of the 316 about 19 deal with dread, fear or being afraid. 297 deal with reverence, respect,
[4] Ibid Strong #7725. [Shuwb]= to turn. The only other Hebrew word used for repent is #5162. “ Na-cham” which means to sigh or breathe strongly.