Proverbs 28 Study Notes

28:1 God gives irrational terror to the wicked and courage to the righteous (Lv 26:17; Dt 28:25; Jos 1:5-6; Ac 9:31; Rm 15:5).

28:2 People usually do not rebel against a wise king. The last phrase could also be translated, “right endures.”

28:3 A hard rain at the wrong time could sweep away (Jr 46:15) a crop.

28:4 One’s attitude toward God’s instruction determines one’s attitude toward the wicked. Either one loves God’s instruction and wages war against wickedness or one hates God’s instruction and praises wickedness. There is no middle position.

28:5 To seek the Lord can mean to consult him for wisdom and knowledge (Ex 33:7; 2Sm 21:1) or to pursue a relationship with him (Dt 4:29; Ps 27:4; Zph 2:3).

28:6 On poor person . . . with integrity, see note at 11:20; on better . . . than proverbs, see note at 15:16-17.

28:7 On discerning, see note at 1:5.

28:8 In this life or in eternity, God will punish those who exploit the poor and will reward those who help them.

28:9 To reject God’s law implies lack of trust, which precludes prayer (1:23-31; Heb 11:6).

28:10 On inherit, see note at 3:35.

28:11 On rich, see notes at 10:15; 18:10-11; on wise in his own eyes, see note at 26:12.

28:12 To see the end of the matter, read this verse along with v. 28 and 29:2,16. Under righteous leadership there is a public celebration of “glory” or “beauty” (4:9; 15:31; 17:6; 20:29). Under wicked leaders, literally “a man is sought.”

28:13 It is a good thing to conceal others’ sins (17:9), but not one’s own. To confess and renounce sins is the definition of repentance. The person who finds mercy will prosper in the ultimate sense in eternity.

28:14 On happy, see note at 3:13-18. The Hebrew word for reverent usually refers to terror (1:26-27), but in this context it is synonymous with the fear of the Lord. To have a hard heart is to refuse to turn and obey God (Ex 7:3; Ezk 3:7).

28:15 A wicked ruler is destructive out of anger (19:12; 20:2).

28:16 Very oppressive is literally “much extortion” (Is 33:15). On dishonest profit, see note at 1:19.

28:17 Until death is literally “to the Pit” (1:12). The innocent should be rescued from death (24:11), but not those guilty of shedding innocent blood (Dt 19:11-13).

28:18 On integrity, see note at 11:20.

28:19 On “work,” see note at 12:11. Have plenty and have his fill translate the same Hebrew word (18:20).

28:20 It is implied that the person in a hurry to get rich is willing to use illegal or immoral means. On not go unpunished, see note at 6:27-29.

28:21 An unjust judge may eventually give in to small bribes (24:23; Dt 16:19).

28:22 On in a hurry for wealth, see notes at vv. 19,20.

28:23 One exception to this is rebuking a mocker (9:7).

28:24 Refusing to call a sin a sin destroys society. It is sinful to justify stealing money from one’s parents (Mt 15:5-6; cp. Pr 20:21; Lk 15:12). A person is known by what kind of companions he has (Ps 1:1; 119:63; Pr 4:14; Jr 15:17).

28:25 Greedy is literally “enlarged throat” (Is 5:14) or appetite (Hab 2:5); see the Hebrew word nephesh in note at Pr 13:2-4. To prosper is literally to “be fat” (15:30). On the benefit of trusting, cp. 16:20; 29:25.

28:26 Be safe is literally “escape (judgment)” (19:5, cp. 19:9). This implies the fool will perish (1:32) because the object of his trust cannot save him (11:28).

28:27 Generosity results in blessings, not curses (22:9; cp. 21:13).

28:28 On the wicked in power, see note at v. 12. To flourish is to increase in number and power (29:16).