Interpreting the Proverbs

What are proverbs?

• General truths that assume exceptions– Pv 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he

is old he will not turn from it.” Can we stand on that promise?

– Subset of wisdom literature• Proverbs is broken into two broad sections.

– 1-9 is more narrative where a father is giving advice to his son, or personified teaching from Lady Wisdom

– 10-31 are more general, sometimes unrelated statements• Key interpretive verse for all of proverbs is “The fear of

the Lord” in 1:7

Interpreting Guidelines

• Proverbs approve what God approves and condemn what God condemns

• Proverbs are free from error because they are God-breathed– Confucius has good things to say like “He who is

too ready to speak of it will have difficulties carrying it out.” But also terrible things: “One hundred women are not worth a single testicle.”

Interpreting Guidelines

• Proverbs show how life normally works.– 10:4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent

hands bring wealth.– Compare with 13:23 A poor man’s field may

produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.

• Proverbs can be situational. They speak to the occasion they reference – work, injustice, pride, ect.

Interpreting Guidelines

• A handful of proverbs are promises, and can be identified as such– 11:1 The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but

accurate weights are his delight– 10:2 Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but

righteousness delivers from death.– 11:7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;

all he expected from his power comes to nothing

Preaching and Teaching the Proverbs

• Hmmm.• Can teach a whole section from part of the 1st

nine chapters.• Can select a number of proverbs speaking to

the same theme and preach that (pride, lust, anger)

• Can use proverbs as examples to support teaching on other Bible passages.