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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Proverbs 12:16 - 12:16
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The relations of the subject and the predicate are the same as in the preceding verse.
The fool makes known his vexation on the same day [at once],
On the contrary, the prudent man hideth the offence.
Very frequently in these proverbs the first line is only defined by the adducing of the second, or the second holds itself in the light of the first. A post-bibl. proverb says that a man is known by three things: by his כוס (his behaviour in drinking), his כיס (his conduct in money transactions), and his כעס (his conduct under deep inward excitement). So here: he is a fool who, if some injury is done to him, immediately shows his vexation in a passionate manner; while, on the contrary the prudent man maintains silence as to the dishonour that is done to him, and represses his displeasure, so as not to increase his vexation to his own injury. Passionless retaliation may in certain cases be a duty of self-preservation, and may appear to be necessary for the protection of truth, but passionate self-defence is always of evil, whether the injury which is inflicted be justifiable or unjustifiable. Regarding עָרוּם, callidus, vid., p. 56; Schultens' comparison of the Greek γεγυμνασμένος is only a conceit in want of better knowledge. Regarding כֹּסֶה (only here and at Pro 12:23) with מְכַסֶּה, as שֹׁחֵר (only Pro 11:27) with מְשַׁחֵר, vid., Ewald, §170a. בַּיּוֹם signifies on the self-same day = without delay, immediately, and is well translated by the lxx αὐθήμερον. With another object, 16b is repeated in 23a.