Proverbs 11:28

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) He that trusteth in his riches shall fall.—Because of their uncertainty, and because they prevent his trusting in the living God (1Timothy 6:17).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:28. The true believer is a branch of the living Vine. When those that take root in the world wither, those who are grafted into Christ shall be fruitful. 29. He that brings trouble upon himself and his family, by carelessness, or by wickedness, shall be unable to keep and enjoy what he gets, as a man is unable to hold the wind, or to satisfy himself with it. 30. The righteous are as trees of life; and their influence upon earth, like the fruits of that tree, support and nourish the spiritual life in many. 31. Even the righteous, when they offend on earth, shall meet with sharp corrections; much more will the wicked meet the due reward of their sins. Let us then seek those blessings which our Surety purchased by his sufferings and death; let us seek to copy his example, and to keep his commandments.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Branch - Better, leaf, as in Psalm 1:3; Isaiah 34:4.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

28. (Compare Pr 10:15; Ps 49:6; 1Ti 6:17).

righteous … branch—(Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

He that trusteth in his riches, as his chief portion, and felicity, and ground of safety,

shall fall, as a withered leaf, by comparing this clause with the latter.

The righteous, who maketh God alone, and not riches, his trust,

shall flourish as a branch, to wit, a green and flourishing branch.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall,.... As leaves in autumn, which are withered and dry. To trust in riches is to trust in uncertain things; things not to be depended on, being here today and gone tomorrow; it is like leaning upon a broken staff, which giving way, the person falls: and so the fall of Babylon will be, while she is trusting in and boasting of her riches and grandeur, Revelation 18:7;

but the righteous shall flourish as a branch; that abides in the tree, is alive and green, full of leaves, and laden with fruit: so the righteous are as branches in Christ, and receive life and nourishment from him, and abide in him; and bring forth fruit and flourish, like palm trees and cedars, in the house of the Lord, and grow in every grace, and in the knowledge of Christ; see Jeremiah 17:7.

Geneva Study Bible

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28. branch] Rather leaf, R.V. Comp. Genesis 3:7; Psalm 1:3.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 28. - There are many expressions in this and the following verses which recall Psalm 1. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall (Proverbs 10:2; Psalm 49:6, 7; Psalm 52:7; Ecclus. 5:8). Wealth is of all things the most uncertain, and leads the heart astray from God (1 Timothy 6:17). As a branch; "as a leaf" (Psalm 1:8; Isaiah 34:4). The righteous grow in grace and spiritual beauty, and bring forth the fruit of good works. Septuagint, "He who layeth hold on what is righteous [or, 'helpeth the righteous'] shall spring up (ἀνατελεῖ)." Proverbs 11:28

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall,

     And the righteous shall flourish like the green leaf.

יפּול (plene after the Masora) as well as the figure וכעלה (cf. for the punctuation וכעשׁן, Proverbs 10:26) are singular, but are understood if one observes that in 28a a withered tree, and in 28b a tree with leaves ever green, hovers before the imagination of the poet (cf. Psalm 1:4; Jeremiah 17:8). The proud rich man, who on the ground of his riches appears to himself to be free from danger, goes on to his ruin (יפול as Proverbs 11:5, and frequently in the Book of Proverbs), while on the contrary the righteous continues to flourish like the leaf - they thus resemble the trees which perennially continue to flourish anew. Regarding עלה as originally collective (Symm. θάλλος), vid., at Isaiah 1:30, and regarding פּרח (R. פר, to break), here of the continual breaking forth of fresh-growing leaf-buds, vid., at Isaiah 11:1. The apostolic word names this continual growth the metamorphosis of believers, 2 Corinthians 2:18. The lxx has read וּמעלה (approved by Hitzig): and he who raiseth up the righteous.