Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart shall be called prudent,.... He that has true wisdom in the inward part; who knows his heart and the haughtiness of it; who has the fear of God in it, which is the beginning of

The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

The wise in heart shall be called prudent: the sense is either, 1. He who hath wisdom or sound knowledge in his heart, will show it by his prudence in ordering his actions. Or rather, 2. He who is truly wise, or prudent, or intelligent (all which words most commonly signify one and the same thing, both in this and in other books of Scripture) shall be so called or accounted by others. The sweetness of the lips; eloquence added to wisdom; the faculty of expressing a man’ s mind fitly, and freely, and acceptably. Increaseth learning; both in himself, for whilst a man teacheth others he improveth himself; and especially in others, who by this means are induced to hear and receive his good instructions. Wisdom gets a man repute with others, but this faculty of right speaking makes a wise man more instrumental to do good to others.

Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.Ver. 21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent.] He shall have the style and esteem of an intelligent, though not, haply, of an eloquent man. Of some it may be said, as Solinus saith of his poly-histor to his friend Antius, Fermentum (ut ita dicam) cognitionis, ei magis in esse, quam bracteas eloquentiae deprehendas, - You may find more worth of wisdom in them than force of words. Bonaventure requireth to a perfect speech congruity, truth, and ornament. This latter some wise men want, and it is their ornament that they neglect ornament, as Cicero writes of Atticus, and as Beza writes of Calvin, that he was facundiae contemptor et verborum parcus, sed minime ineptus scriptor - a plain but profitable author. And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.] That is, eloquence with prudence edifieth, and is of singular use for the laying forth of a man’ s talent to the good of others. As one being asked whether light was pleasant, replied, That is a blind man’ s question; so if any ask whether eloquence and a gracious utterance be useful in the Church of God, it is an insulse and inficete question. Zaneby, speaking of Calvin and Viret - who were preachers together at Geneva when he first came there out of Italy - uses these words: Sicut in Calvino insignem doctrinam, sic in Vireto singularein eloquentiam, et in commovendis affectibus efficacitatem admirabar; i.e., As Calvin I admired for excellent learning, so did I Viret no less for his singular eloquence and efficacy in drawing affections. Beza also was of the same mind, as appears by that epigram of his: “ Gallica mirata est Calvinum ecclesia nuper, Quo nemo docuit doctius: Et miratur adhuc fundentem mella Viretum, Quo nemo fatur dulcius.” Solin., Praefat. De libris Attici scriptum reliquit Cicero eos hoc ipso fuisse ornatos quod ornamenta negligerent. τυφλουερωτημα. Lacking wit or sense; dull, insipid, stupid; senseless, absurd. Unfacetious; not witty Zanch., Miscel., Ep. Ded.

(21) The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.—Power to express the thoughts in graceful language adds greatly to the value of learning.

21. “He who is wise will gain respect; but if he should also possess a pleasant manner of imparting his wisdom, he will be a more efficient teacher,” Rel. Tr. Soc. Commentary.

The words point to the conditions of all true growth in wisdom; and he who has the gift of uttering it in winning speech increases it in himself and others.

21. Prudent — Or, intelligent. Sweetness of the lips — Persuasive eloquence. If a wise man can add the charm of eloquence, his wisdom will be more instructive. “Sweetness of the lips makes a lesson better taken.” — Miller.