Proverbs 8:13
Verse
Context
Sermons



Summary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
Far remote is the idea that 13a is dependent on אמצא (I acquire) (Lwenstein, Bertheau). With this verse begins a new series of thoughts raising themselves on the basis of the fundamental clause 13a. Wisdom says what she hates, and why she hates it: 13 "The fear of Jahve is to hate evil; Pride and arrogancy, and an evil way And a deceitful mouth, do I hate." If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Pro 9:10; Pro 1:7), then wisdom, personally considered, stands before all else that is to be said of her in a relation of homage or reverence toward God corresponding to the fear of God on the part of man; and if, as the premiss 13a shows, the fear of God has as its reverse side the hatred of evil, then there arises what Wisdom says in שׂנאתי (I hate) of herself. Instead of the n. actionis שׂנאת (hatred), formed in the same way with יראת, which, admitting the article, becomes a substantive, the author uses, in order that he might designate the predicate as such (Hitzig), rather the n. actionis שׂנאת as מלאת, Jer 29:10. קראת, Jdg 8:1, is equivalent to שׂנאת like יבּשׁת, the becoming dry, יכלת, the being able; cf. (Arab.) shanat, hating, malât, well-being, ḳarât, reading (Fl.). The evil which Wisdom hates is now particularized as, Pro 6:16-19, the evil which Jahve hates. The virtue of all virtues is humility; therefore Wisdom hates, above all, self-exaltation in all its forms. The paronomasia גּאה וגאון (pride and haughtiness) expresses the idea in the whole of its contents and compass (cf. Isa 15:6; Isa 3:1, and above at Pro 1:27). גּאה (from גּאה, the nominal form), that which is lofty = pride, stands with גּאון, as Job 4:10, גבהּ, that which is high = arrogance. There follows the viam mali, representing the sins of walk, i.e., of conduct, and os fullax (vid., at Pro 2:12), the sins of the mouth. Hitzig rightly rejects the interpunctuation רע, and prefers רע. In consequence of this Dech (Tiphcha init.), וּפי תהפּכת have in Codd. and good editions the servants Asla and Illuj (vid., Baer's Torath Emeth, p. 11); Aben-Ezra and Moses Kimchi consider the Asla erroneously as disjunctive, and explain וּפי by et os = axioma meum, but Asla is conjunctive, and has after it the ת raphatum.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
For such is the effect of the fear of God, by which hatred to evil preserves from it. froward mouth--or, "speech" (Pro 2:12; Pro 6:14).
John Gill Bible Commentary
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil,.... All evil in general, evil thoughts, evil words, evil actions, evil company, evil worship, and evil doctrines; and by "the fear of the Lord", which shows itself in an hatred of evil, because of the loathsome nature of it, and being contrary to God and his will, and as it appears in the glass of the law, and especially in the glass of pardoning love, is meant not the fear of his judgments and wrath, or a distrust of his grace and goodness, much less an hypocritical fear, or a mere show of devotion; but a reverential affection for him, which is peculiar to children; a filial, godly fear, which is consistent with strong faith, great joy, and true courage; and is opposite to pride and self-confidence, and is accompanied with real holiness; it takes its rise from the grace of God, and is greatly increased and promoted by the discoveries of his love and goodness: this is brought into the account and description of wisdom, to distinguish it from carnal wisdom; to commend wisdom from its holiness; for this the beginning of wisdom, yea, wisdom itself, Job 28:28; pride and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate; these are the particulars of evil, which Wisdom, or Christ, declares his hatred of. "Pride", which appears in men in thinking too highly of themselves, in speaking too well of themselves, in despising others, in setting up and trusting to their own righteousness for salvation, and in crying up the purity and power of human nature; this is very contrary to the spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus, and must be hateful to him: "arrogancy" differs little from pride, and the two words in the Hebrew are very much the same, very little differ; it is an ascribing that to a man's self which does not belong to him, whether in things natural, civil, or spiritual; when men attribute their justification and salvation to their own works, it is arrogancy, and must be hateful to Christ; who been at so much pains and expense to bring in everlasting righteousness, and work out salvation for men: it is the height of arrogancy in a man to conceit he a power to regenerate, renew, and convert himself, and, with the haughty Arminian, Grevinchovius, to say, he has made himself to differ from others; this must be hateful to Christ, by whose Spirit and grace this only is done: and it is a piece of arrogancy when men ascribe all the good works done by them to their own power, when without Christ they can do nothing; which therefore must be displeasing to him. "The evil way", as Aben Ezra observes, is an evil custom and course of sinning; a man's own way, which he chooses and delights in, and which leads to destruction: "and the froward mouth" is the mouth that speaks perverse things; things contrary to a man's own heart, contrary to truth, to the rule of the divine word, to the Gospel, to Christ and his people, and to all men; which must be hateful and abominable to him who is truth itself.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
8:13 Those who choose wisdom, i.e., those who fear the Lord (see 1:7; 9:10), will not speak in ways that harm others or bend the truth.
Proverbs 8:13
The Excellence of Wisdom
12I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. 14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Fear of God Has Been Lost in the Church (Compilation)
By Compilations6.1K27:06PRO 8:13This sermon emphasizes the importance of reverential fear of God, highlighting the need for Christians to embrace the holiness, judgment, and severity of God. It calls for a return to a deep respect for God's majesty, warning against a lack of fear leading to false grace and deception. The message stresses the necessity of obedience, repentance, and walking in righteousness, urging believers to heed the Holy Spirit's conviction and make things right with God before it's too late.
The Power of Weeping
By Michael Youssef5.9K20:48PRO 8:13JER 9:1MAT 22:37ROM 1:161CO 9:162TI 4:2JAS 4:10In this sermon, the speaker expresses deep concern and lament over the current condition of the Church of Jesus Christ. He urges the audience not to dismiss his words as judgmental or negative, but rather to share his concern and join him in sounding the alarm. The speaker criticizes the church for its spiritual apathy, reliance on statistics and entertainment, and focus on profitability rather than biblical truth. He emphasizes the need for repentance and turning to God, and confesses his own journey of realizing the importance of tears and vulnerability in his ministry.
(A Marriage Blessed by God) 1. Build Your Home With Wisdom
By Zac Poonen5.4K1:01:53GEN 39:9PSA 4:4PSA 34:11PRO 8:13PRO 24:3PRO 29:14PRO 29:20EPH 4:26This sermon emphasizes the importance of building godly marriages and homes by focusing on the fear of the Lord, wisdom, and self-control. It highlights the need to prioritize reverence for God, control over hasty words and actions, and seeking peace in relationships. The speaker draws insights from biblical characters like Joseph and David to illustrate the impact of fearing God in overcoming temptations and building a strong foundation for marriage.
Every Knee Shall Bow
By Chuck Smith4.6K35:00PRO 8:13This sermon delves into Revelation chapters 14 and 15, focusing on the events of the near future and the role of believers in them. It highlights the heavenly scene with tribulation saints singing the song of Moses and the Lamb, acknowledging God's works and ways as just and true. The sermon emphasizes the fear of the Lord, the importance of glorifying His name, and the manifestation of God's judgments, urging listeners to respond to God's love and salvation before facing His righteous judgments.
Collection of a.w. Tozer's Prayers - Volume 1
By A.W. Tozer2.1K04:51PrayerPSA 34:14PSA 97:10PRO 8:13ROM 12:91TI 6:111PE 3:111JN 3:4The sermon transcript emphasizes the importance of hating sin and loving righteousness. It encourages listeners to flee from iniquity and pursue godliness. The speaker also highlights the concept of mercy, stating that it surrounds us like the air and is a characteristic of God. The sermon concludes with a prayer for repentance and a plea for God's mercy and guidance. Overall, the sermon emphasizes the need to focus on spiritual matters and to live according to God's will.
I Said Yes When I Should Have Said No
By Jim Logan1.2K1:13:19PRO 6:16PRO 8:13PRO 16:5This sermon emphasizes the importance of a deep prayer life, reflecting on the impact of praying with individuals like Alan George and Mark Bubeck. It delves into the concept of 'yada' in the Bible, highlighting the significance of knowing and being known by God. The sermon also addresses the issue of pride, drawing attention to how pride can hinder our relationship with God and lead to destruction. Additionally, it touches on the simplicity of love in marriage relationships, contrasting the abundance of marriage counseling resources with the fundamental principle of loving one's spouse.
sermonindex.net Trailer - the Lost Fear of God
By Compilations1.0K01:50PSA 33:8PSA 34:9PSA 111:10PSA 145:19PRO 8:13PRO 14:27PRO 16:6ECC 12:13HEB 12:28This sermon emphasizes the importance of maintaining a reverent fear of God, highlighting how many have lost this sense of holiness and awe in the church. It discusses the fear of the Lord as a key aspect of departing from evil and purging iniquity, leading to true freedom. The message contrasts the unconditional love of God with the need for a deep respect and fear of displeasing Him, stressing the significance of acknowledging God's majesty and holiness in our lives.
Trembling at God's Righteousness
By Joshua Daniel61950:49DEU 2:25PSA 99:1PRO 8:13ACT 24:252CO 6:2REV 22:20This sermon focuses on the importance of not deferring obedience to God, using the example of Felix delaying his decision to follow Christ. It emphasizes the need for humility, righteousness, and temperance in our lives, urging listeners to prioritize their relationship with Jesus above all else and to be prepared for His return. The message highlights the significance of immediate obedience and the dangers of procrastination when it comes to responding to God's call.
The Fear of the Lord Is Coming
By Brian Guerin2451:44:53Humility and HolinessFear Of The LordFear Of GodPSA 33:8PRO 8:13ISA 11:2MAL 3:16MAT 10:28Brian Guerin emphasizes the importance of the fear of the Lord in his sermon, highlighting that it is a necessary aspect of our relationship with God. He shares a dream that reveals how God opens doors for us, urging believers to embrace new seasons with faith rather than retreating to old ways. Guerin also discusses the need for humility and holiness, explaining that true reverence for God leads to a life aligned with His will. He encourages the congregation to seek the spirit of the fear of the Lord, which brings divine order and a deeper intimacy with God. The sermon culminates in a call for repentance and a desire for the fear of the Lord to manifest in the lives of believers.
The Fear of the Lord
By Joy Dawson1761:26:40Fear Of The LordPrayer and IntercessionHolinessPRO 2:1PRO 8:13PRO 16:6ISA 8:13MAL 2:5MAT 10:26ACT 5:11ROM 3:172CO 7:1EPH 5:21Joy Dawson emphasizes the critical need for the fear of the Lord within the body of Christ, explaining that true fear is not about being afraid of God but rather having a deep reverence and hatred for sin. She discusses various levels of attitudes towards sin and how the fear of the Lord can lead to a genuine transformation in our lives, enabling us to avoid evil and live in holiness. Dawson also highlights the importance of prayer and intercession in restoring this fear, urging believers to take their relationship with God seriously and to seek His guidance earnestly. The sermon culminates in a call for prayer, emphasizing that the fear of the Lord is essential for true revival and spiritual awakening in the church and the world.
So Great Salvation: The Fear of the Lord
By Paris Reidhead12345:09Fear Of GodDEU 10:12JOS 24:14PRO 8:13ECC 12:13ISA 8:13HEB 2:3HEB 12:5In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not just memorizing and reciting the word of God, but truly experiencing and living it. He criticizes the idea of being like a tape recorder that simply plays back information without any personal connection or understanding. The speaker believes that it is crucial for believers to have a deep and vibrant relationship with the truth they profess and the salvation they embrace. He warns against the danger of becoming professional or mechanical in handling the things of God, and instead encourages a genuine and heartfelt approach. The sermon also touches on the need for missionaries to effectively communicate the message of God by connecting with their audience and using their material in a compelling way.
Praying to Experience the Fear of God, Part 2
By Mike Bickle2153:10Prayer and IntercessionFear Of GodPSA 19:9PRO 1:29PRO 8:13ISA 8:13JER 32:40JER 33:3ACT 2:43ACT 4:312CO 7:1JAS 4:2Mike Bickle emphasizes the necessity of praying for the fear of God, drawing from Jeremiah 32 and 33, where God promises to instill this fear in the hearts of those who seek it. He encourages the congregation to contend for this divine gift, especially as they prepare for an upcoming conference with thousands of young people, believing that such prayer can lead to significant spiritual breakthroughs. Bickle highlights that the fear of God is not only a choice but also a gift and a character trait that can be cultivated through prayer and community. He warns against the dangers of spiritual complacency and the importance of recognizing God's watchfulness and the real consequences of our actions. Ultimately, he calls for a collective effort to seek the fear of God in their lives and ministries.
This Monster, Pride—this Hellish Sin
By Anne Dutton0PSA 10:4PRO 8:13PRO 11:2PRO 16:18ISA 2:11ROM 12:31CO 1:31PHP 2:3JAS 4:61PE 5:5Anne Dutton preaches about the sin of pride, highlighting its roots in unbelief and its opposition to the gospel of Christ. She emphasizes how pride robs God of His glory and believers of their joy, and how it hinders divine service and brings about God's chastisements. Dutton urges believers to humble themselves, seek forgiveness, and strive to eradicate pride with the help of God's grace, looking forward to the day when they will be free from this sin in the glory of eternity.
True Hatred of Sin
By Thomas Brooks0True RepentanceHatred of SinPSA 97:10PRO 8:13ROM 12:9JAS 4:7Thomas Brooks emphasizes that true hatred of sin goes beyond mere actions such as refraining from sin, confessing it, or fearing its consequences. He argues that genuine hatred of sin is rooted in a deep understanding of its nature and its opposition to God. Unlike hypocrites who may regret sin for its repercussions, a true believer mourns sin because it offends God and corrupts the soul. Brooks illustrates that a sincere hatred of sin is akin to hating it as one would hate hell itself, reflecting a profound spiritual integrity.
Common Grace
By Thomas Brooks0Sin and HolinessGracePSA 51:4PRO 8:13ISA 59:2ROM 6:232CO 7:10GAL 5:17EPH 4:30HEB 10:26JAS 1:151JN 1:9Thomas Brooks emphasizes the distinction between common grace and renewing grace in relation to sin. He explains that common grace leads individuals to fear the consequences of sin, such as hell and judgment, rather than recognizing the inherent evil and offense of sin against God. A sanctified heart detests sin for its defiling nature and its offense to God's holiness, while an unsanctified heart is primarily concerned with the personal repercussions of sin. Brooks illustrates that true hatred of sin arises from a love for God and His righteousness, rather than fear of punishment.
The Mischief of Sin
By Thomas Watson0EXO 16:31JOB 15:16PSA 39:9PRO 8:13JER 23:24ROM 2:5EPH 2:4COL 3:51TI 1:131JN 1:7REV 16:9REV 21:27Thomas Watson preaches about the mischief of sin, highlighting God's mercy in saving Christians from persisting in sin and the consequences of unrepentant sinners storing up wrath for themselves. He emphasizes the destructive nature of sin, its link to punishment, and the need to avoid pride, covetousness, and immorality. Watson also discusses the cleansing power of Christ's blood, the importance of repentance, and the eternal consequences of sin. He urges believers to use the Word of God, prayer, and mortification to overcome sin and emphasizes the need to fear the consequences of sin and avoid secret sins that lead to destruction.
Humility and the Fear of the Lord
By Bob Hoekstra0DEU 7:7PSA 146:8PRO 8:13PRO 9:10PRO 11:2PRO 22:4JHN 3:16JHN 10:101PE 5:51JN 3:1Bob Hoekstra preaches on the importance of humility and the fear of the Lord, emphasizing that these qualities lead to riches, honor, life, and wisdom. Humility is acknowledging our need for God to work in our lives daily, while the fear of the Lord is rooted in respect and reverence towards God, not in terror. Those who fear the Lord embrace His values, hating evil and loving righteousness, justice, His chosen people, the church, and the world.
Of the Fear of God.
By John Gill0True WorshipFear Of GodPSA 2:11PSA 34:9PSA 103:13PSA 130:4PRO 8:13ECC 12:13ISA 50:10MAL 4:2MAT 10:28HEB 12:28John Gill emphasizes the profound significance of the fear of God in true worship, asserting that it encompasses both internal and external expressions of faith. He explains that fearing God is not about being afraid of Him, but rather about reverence and respect, which leads to obedience and a life aligned with His commandments. Gill contrasts this godly fear with various forms of ungodly fear, such as servile or hypocritical fear, and highlights that true fear of God results in a hatred of sin and a commitment to righteousness. He concludes by affirming the blessings and promises that come to those who fear the Lord, including His protection, provision, and acceptance.
The Wicked Through Pride Refuse to Seek God.
By Edward Payson0PSA 10:4PSA 138:6PRO 8:13PRO 16:18ISA 57:15MAT 23:12PHP 2:3JAS 4:61PE 5:51JN 2:16Edward Payson preaches about the wicked's unwillingness to seek after God due to the pride of their hearts, which hinders them from pursuing knowledge, favor, likeness, and communion with God. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is solely by God's grace, highlighting the wicked's self-destructive nature and the folly of pride that leads to ignorance and separation from God. Payson urges self-examination among the audience, challenging them to seek God diligently through studying scriptures, prayer, and pursuing communion with Him.
A Little leaven...
By David Servant0PSA 97:10PRO 8:131CO 5:62CO 7:1David Servant delivers a powerful sermon using a story about brownies to illustrate the importance of purity and avoiding even a hint of sin. Just as the teens refused to eat brownies with a small amount of dog poop, we should not tolerate any sin in our lives, as it can lead us into temptation. This lesson teaches us to hate evil and strive for holiness in the fear of God.
The True Christian Hates All Sin
By Thomas Brooks0Hatred of SinHolinessPSA 119:104PRO 8:13MAT 5:29ROM 12:9GAL 5:17EPH 4:30HEB 12:1JAS 4:71PE 5:81JN 1:9Thomas Brooks emphasizes that a true Christian harbors a profound and deadly hatred for all sin, recognizing that every sin attacks God's holiness and undermines the happiness of the upright. He illustrates that sin is a universal evil that has led even the most righteous figures, like Noah, Abraham, and David, to fall. An upright heart, therefore, rises in arms against all forms of sin, viewing them as traitors to the glory of God. In contrast, an unsound heart may resist some sins while clinging to others, highlighting the need for complete rejection of sin in the life of a believer.
The Great Master-Scar of the Soul
By Thomas Brooks0PrideHumilityPSA 10:4PRO 8:13PRO 11:2PRO 16:5PRO 18:12ISA 2:12LUK 14:11GAL 6:3JAS 4:61PE 5:5Thomas Brooks emphasizes the destructive nature of pride in his sermon 'The Great Master-Scar of the Soul,' describing it as the root of all sin and a leprosy that cannot be concealed. He warns that pride leads to spiritual separation from God, as He detests the proud and will not associate with them. Brooks urges believers to be vigilant against pride, to arm themselves with humility, and to pray earnestly for protection against this pervasive sin. The sermon highlights the necessity of recognizing and combating pride to experience God's presence and favor.
Holy Hatred
By Thomas Brooks0SinHolinessPSA 119:104PRO 8:13MAT 5:29ROM 12:9GAL 5:17EPH 5:11HEB 12:1JAS 4:41PE 1:151JN 2:15Thomas Brooks emphasizes that true holiness is accompanied by a 'holy hatred' towards all forms of sin, as every sin is an affront to God's holiness and glory. A holy individual perceives sin as a direct attack on the nature of God and the sacrifice of Christ, leading to a passionate desire for its eradication. Brooks warns that even one favored sin can lead to spiritual ruin, comparing it to various biblical examples of downfall due to a single transgression. He contrasts the motivations of a holy heart, which detests sin for its defilement, with an unholy heart, which may only resent sin for its consequences. Ultimately, Brooks calls for a complete rejection of sin, urging believers to recognize its destructive nature and the necessity of a holy hatred towards it.
The Secret of Deliverance From Evil.
By Horatius Bonar0Fear Of GodDeliverance from SinPSA 34:9PSA 111:10PRO 8:13PRO 16:6ECC 12:13ISA 33:6ROM 6:232CO 5:11HEB 12:281JN 1:9Horatius Bonar emphasizes the pervasive nature of evil in the world, both within and without, and highlights that true deliverance from sin comes through the fear of the Lord. He explains that while many attempt to combat sin through time, effort, human wisdom, law, or terror, these methods are ineffective. Instead, the fear of God, rooted in the understanding of His forgiveness, is the true corrective that leads to obedience, fellowship, love, and zeal. Bonar asserts that this fear transforms our relationship with sin, enabling us to depart from it and align our lives with God's will. Ultimately, he warns that the absence of this fear is the root cause of wickedness in the hearts of men.
The Root Cause of Americas Moral Collapse
By John Franklin0EXO 20:20NUM 14:182CH 7:14PSA 36:1PRO 8:13PRO 16:6MAL 3:6MAT 5:13ACT 10:34ROM 3:18HEB 4:13REV 19:15John Franklin emphasizes the importance of fearing God in a society plagued by immorality and a lack of accountability. He highlights how the fear of God serves as a deterrent to sin, as seen in various biblical passages, and how a rediscovery of this truth can lead to a moral and spiritual turnaround in the nation. Franklin challenges Christians to evaluate their discipleship and question why so many continue in wickedness despite claiming to follow Christ. He points out the societal consequences of Christians losing their fear of God, leading to a deluge of immorality and a lack of distinction between believers and non-believers.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
Far remote is the idea that 13a is dependent on אמצא (I acquire) (Lwenstein, Bertheau). With this verse begins a new series of thoughts raising themselves on the basis of the fundamental clause 13a. Wisdom says what she hates, and why she hates it: 13 "The fear of Jahve is to hate evil; Pride and arrogancy, and an evil way And a deceitful mouth, do I hate." If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Pro 9:10; Pro 1:7), then wisdom, personally considered, stands before all else that is to be said of her in a relation of homage or reverence toward God corresponding to the fear of God on the part of man; and if, as the premiss 13a shows, the fear of God has as its reverse side the hatred of evil, then there arises what Wisdom says in שׂנאתי (I hate) of herself. Instead of the n. actionis שׂנאת (hatred), formed in the same way with יראת, which, admitting the article, becomes a substantive, the author uses, in order that he might designate the predicate as such (Hitzig), rather the n. actionis שׂנאת as מלאת, Jer 29:10. קראת, Jdg 8:1, is equivalent to שׂנאת like יבּשׁת, the becoming dry, יכלת, the being able; cf. (Arab.) shanat, hating, malât, well-being, ḳarât, reading (Fl.). The evil which Wisdom hates is now particularized as, Pro 6:16-19, the evil which Jahve hates. The virtue of all virtues is humility; therefore Wisdom hates, above all, self-exaltation in all its forms. The paronomasia גּאה וגאון (pride and haughtiness) expresses the idea in the whole of its contents and compass (cf. Isa 15:6; Isa 3:1, and above at Pro 1:27). גּאה (from גּאה, the nominal form), that which is lofty = pride, stands with גּאון, as Job 4:10, גבהּ, that which is high = arrogance. There follows the viam mali, representing the sins of walk, i.e., of conduct, and os fullax (vid., at Pro 2:12), the sins of the mouth. Hitzig rightly rejects the interpunctuation רע, and prefers רע. In consequence of this Dech (Tiphcha init.), וּפי תהפּכת have in Codd. and good editions the servants Asla and Illuj (vid., Baer's Torath Emeth, p. 11); Aben-Ezra and Moses Kimchi consider the Asla erroneously as disjunctive, and explain וּפי by et os = axioma meum, but Asla is conjunctive, and has after it the ת raphatum.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
For such is the effect of the fear of God, by which hatred to evil preserves from it. froward mouth--or, "speech" (Pro 2:12; Pro 6:14).
John Gill Bible Commentary
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil,.... All evil in general, evil thoughts, evil words, evil actions, evil company, evil worship, and evil doctrines; and by "the fear of the Lord", which shows itself in an hatred of evil, because of the loathsome nature of it, and being contrary to God and his will, and as it appears in the glass of the law, and especially in the glass of pardoning love, is meant not the fear of his judgments and wrath, or a distrust of his grace and goodness, much less an hypocritical fear, or a mere show of devotion; but a reverential affection for him, which is peculiar to children; a filial, godly fear, which is consistent with strong faith, great joy, and true courage; and is opposite to pride and self-confidence, and is accompanied with real holiness; it takes its rise from the grace of God, and is greatly increased and promoted by the discoveries of his love and goodness: this is brought into the account and description of wisdom, to distinguish it from carnal wisdom; to commend wisdom from its holiness; for this the beginning of wisdom, yea, wisdom itself, Job 28:28; pride and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate; these are the particulars of evil, which Wisdom, or Christ, declares his hatred of. "Pride", which appears in men in thinking too highly of themselves, in speaking too well of themselves, in despising others, in setting up and trusting to their own righteousness for salvation, and in crying up the purity and power of human nature; this is very contrary to the spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus, and must be hateful to him: "arrogancy" differs little from pride, and the two words in the Hebrew are very much the same, very little differ; it is an ascribing that to a man's self which does not belong to him, whether in things natural, civil, or spiritual; when men attribute their justification and salvation to their own works, it is arrogancy, and must be hateful to Christ; who been at so much pains and expense to bring in everlasting righteousness, and work out salvation for men: it is the height of arrogancy in a man to conceit he a power to regenerate, renew, and convert himself, and, with the haughty Arminian, Grevinchovius, to say, he has made himself to differ from others; this must be hateful to Christ, by whose Spirit and grace this only is done: and it is a piece of arrogancy when men ascribe all the good works done by them to their own power, when without Christ they can do nothing; which therefore must be displeasing to him. "The evil way", as Aben Ezra observes, is an evil custom and course of sinning; a man's own way, which he chooses and delights in, and which leads to destruction: "and the froward mouth" is the mouth that speaks perverse things; things contrary to a man's own heart, contrary to truth, to the rule of the divine word, to the Gospel, to Christ and his people, and to all men; which must be hateful and abominable to him who is truth itself.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
8:13 Those who choose wisdom, i.e., those who fear the Lord (see 1:7; 9:10), will not speak in ways that harm others or bend the truth.