Proverbs 19:11

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) It is his glory to pass over a transgression.—In this he imitates a Greater. Comp. Micah 7:18; Romans 3:25; Matthew 5:45.)

Benson Commentary

Proverbs 19:11. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger — Defers the admission of anger, till he has thoroughly considered all the merits of the provocation, seen them in a true light, and weighed them in a just balance; and then defers the prosecution of it, till there be no danger of going into indecencies of speech or behaviour. Plato said to his servant, “I would beat thee if I were not angry.” And it is his glory to pass over a transgression — Not to revenge a wrong, or an affront, when he hath an opportunity. This is opposed to the perverse judgment of worldly men, who account it folly and stupidity not quickly to resent a provocation, and a dishonour and reproach not to revenge it.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

19:11. He attains the most true glory who endeavours most steadily to overcome evil with good. 12. Christ is a King, whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion, and his favour to his people as the refreshing dew. 13. It shows the vanity of the world, that we are liable to the greatest griefs where we promise ourselves the greatest comfort.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

"Delight," high unrestrained enjoyment, is to the "fool" who lacks wisdom but a temptation and a snare. The second clause carries the thought on to what the despotism of Eastern monarchies often presented, the objectionable rule of some favored slave, it might be, of alien birth, over the princes and nobles of the land.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. (Compare Pr 14:29; 16:32). This inculcation of a forgiving spirit shows that true religion is always the same (Mt 5:22-24).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

This is opposed to the perverse judgment of worldly men, who account it folly and stupidity not quickly to resent a provocation, and a dishonour and reproach not to revenge it.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger,.... That he does not show it immediately; but takes time to consider of the offence given him, and makes use of a proper time to resent what is fit should be resented; he is a wise and discreet man that is slow to anger, Proverbs 14:29. He is most like to God, who is "longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth", Exodus 34:6; and it is to the honour of his "name" that he "defers his anger", and "refrains from" cutting off those that offend him, Isaiah 48:9;

and it is his glory to pass over a transgression; to forgive an offence committed; it is the duty and interest of a man to do so, and it is to his honour; as the contrary greatly reflects dishonour on him, and tends to his disgrace and reproach, if not to his ruin; see Matthew 18:32.

Geneva Study Bible

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory {d} to pass over a transgression.

(d) That is, to cover it by charity, and to do in it as may most serve to God's glory.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. deferreth his anger] maketh him slow to anger, R.V.; ἐλεήμων ἀνὴρ μακροθυμεῖ, LXX. Comp. Isaiah 48:9, where the Heb. phrase is the same as here. The cognate Heb. phrase “slow to anger,” occurs frequently, e.g. Psalm 103:8. Comp. James 1:19-20.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; maketh him slow to anger. "A merciful man is long suffering," Septuagint; "The teaching of a man is known by patience," Vulgate. (See Proverbs 14:17, 29.) The Greek moralist gives the advice -

Νίκησον ὀργὴν τῷ λογίζεσθαι καλῶς
"Thine anger quell by reason's timely aid." The contrary disposition betokens folly (Proverbs 14:17). It is his glory to pus over a transgression. It is a real triumph and glory for man to forgive and to take no notice of injuries offered him. Thus in his poor way he imitates Almighty God (Micah 7:18, "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his auger forever, because he delighteth in mercy"). Here it is discretion or prudence that makes a man patient and forgiving; elsewhere the same effect is attributed to love (Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 17:9). The Septuagint Version is hard to understand: Τὸ δὲ καύχημα αὐτοῦ ἐπέρχεται παρανόμοις, "And his glorying cometh on the transgressors;" but, taken in connection with the former hemistich, it seems to mean that the patient man's endurance of the contradictions of sinners is no reproach or disgrace to him, but redounds to his credit and virtue. "Vincit qui patitur," "He conquers who endures." Proverbs 19:11

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

11 The discretion of a man maketh him long-suffering,

     And it is a glory for him to be forbearing toward transgression.

The Syr., Targum, Aquila, and Theodotion translate האריך אפו by μακροθυμία, and thus read האריך; but Rashi, Kimchi, and others remark that האריך is here only another vocalization for האריך, which is impossible. The Venet. also translates: Νοῦς ἀνθρώπου μηκυνεῖ τὸν θυμὸν ἑαυτοῦ; the correct word would be αὐτοῦ: the discretion (intellectus or intelligentia; vid., regarding שׂכל, Proverbs 3:4) of a man extends his anger, i.e., brings it about that it continues long before it breaks out (vid., Proverbs 14:29). One does not stumble at the perf. in view of Proverbs 19:7, Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 16:26, and the like; in the proverbial style the fut. or the particip. is more common. In the synonymous parallel member, תפארתּו points to man as such: it is an honour to him to pass by a transgression (particularly that which affects himself), to let it go aside, i.e., to forbear revenge or punishment (cf. Arab. tjâwz 'aly); thus also the divine πάρεσις (Romans 3:25) is designated by Micah 7:18; and in Amos 7:8; Amos 8:2, עבד stands absol. for the divine remission or passing by, i.e., unavenging of sin.