Proverbs 15:32

He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

15:29. God sets himself at a distance from those who set him at defiance. 30. How delightful to the humbled soul to hear the good report of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ! 31. Faithful, friendly reproofs help spiritual life, and lead to eternal life. 32. Sinners undervalue their own souls; therefore they prefer the body before the soul, and wrong the soul to please the body. 33. The fear of the Lord will dispose us to search the Scriptures with reverence; and it will cause us to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit. While we humbly place all our dependence on the grace of God, we are exalted in the righteousness of Christ.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The reproof of life - i. e., The reproof that leads to, or gives life, rather than that which comes from life and its experience.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

32. refuseth—or, "neglects," "passes by" (Pr 1:25; 4:15).

despiseth … soul—so acts as if esteeming its interests of no value.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Despiseth his own soul; which hereby he exposeth to the danger of utter destruction, whereby he shows his folly.

Getteth understanding; whereby he saveth his soul. Heb. possesseth an heart, which the Hebrews make the seat of wisdom.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

He that refuseth instruction,.... The instruction of parents, masters, ministers, and of God himself; or "correction" (y), instruction either by the word or by the rod; he that withdraws himself from it, will not be in the way of it, that shuns, neglects, and despises it, or carelessly and contemptuously attends it:

despiseth his own soul; shows that he makes no account of it, has no regard for it or care about it, when it is so precious a jewel, and the loss of it irreparable; not that a man can strictly and properly despise his soul, but comparatively, having a greater regard for his body, and especially for his carnal lusts and pleasures, than for that; or as a man diseased and refuses proper medicines may be said to despise his health;

but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding; or "a heart" (z); he gets understanding by listening to reproof, and behaving according to it; he better understands himself and his case, what he should shun and avoid, what he should receive, embrace, and do; instead of losing his soul, as the man that refuses correction does, he finds the life of it, and possesses it, and with it a large share of experience and spiritual wisdom.

(y) "correctionem", Pagninus, Vatablus; "qui abstrahit se a castigatione", Piscator. (z) "cor", Pagninus, Piscator, Schultens, Michaelis.

Geneva Study Bible

He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

32. understanding] Lit. heart. Comp. void of wisdom (Lit. heart), Proverbs 15:21, above, and Proverbs 2:2, note.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 32. - This verse carries on and puts the climax to the lesson of the preceding. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul; "hateth himself," Septuagint; commits moral suicide, because he does not follow the path of life. He is like a sick man who thrusts away (ἀπωθεῖται, Septuagint) the wholesome medicine which is his only hope of cure. He that heareth (listeneth to) reproof getteth understanding; literally, possesseth a heart, and therefore does not despise his soul, but "loves it" (Proverbs 19:8), as the LXX. renders. Proverbs 15:32

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Two proverbs with the catchword מוּסר:

32 He that refuseth correction lightly values his soul;

     But he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Regarding פּורע מוּסר, vid., Proverbs 13:18, cf. Proverbs 1:25, and מואס נפשׁו, Proverbs 8:36. נפשׁו contains more than the later expression עצמו, self; it is equivalent to חיּיו (Job 9:21), for the נפשׁ is the bond of union between the intellectual and the corporeal life. The despising of the soul is then the neglecting, endangering, exposing of the life; in a word, it is suicide (10b). Proverbs 19:8 is a variation derived from this distich: "He who gains understanding loves his soul," according to which the lxx translate here ἀγαπᾷ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ. לב the Midrash explains by חכמה שׁנתונה בלב; but the correct view is, that לב is not thought of as a formal power, but as operative and carried into effect in conformity with its destination.