Proverbs 4:11

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:1-13 We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get this than the wealth of this world. An interest in Christ's salvation is necessary. This wisdom is the one thing needful. A soul without true wisdom and grace is a dead soul. How poor, contemptible, and wretched are those, who, with all their wealth and power, die without getting understanding, without Christ, without hope, and without God! Let us give heed to the sayings of Him who has the words of eternal life. Thus our path will be plain before us: by taking, and keeping fast hold of instruction, we shall avoid being straitened or stumbling.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Or, "The beginning of wisdom is - get wisdom." To seek is to find, to desire is to obtain.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11, 12. way of wisdom—which it prescribes.

led thee—literally, "caused thee to tread," as a path (Ps 107:7).

not be straitened—have ample room (Ps 18:36).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

In the way of wisdom; either

1. Which procureth wisdom. Or,

2. Which wisdom directeth thee to walk in.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom,.... In the way that leads to it, or is concerning it; in the Gospel, which is the wisdom of God in a mystery, the manifold wisdom of God, and which directs to Christ and the knowledge of him, who is true wisdom; this is another reason or argument why the wise man's instructions should be attended to;

I have led thee in right paths; in paths of righteousness, holiness, and truth; in such as are agreeable to the will and word of God, and which lead right on to the city of habitation; and therefore such teachings and leadings should be followed, and such ways walked in.

Geneva Study Bible

I have {d} taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

(d) Solomon declares what care his father had to bring him up in the true fear of God: for this was David's protest.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Eighth Address. Chap. Proverbs 4:10-1911. right paths] Rather, paths of uprightness, R.V., as at once being a more exact rendering and preserving better the parallelism.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - The perfects, I have taught and I have led, in the original seem to have here the absolute signification of the past. The father recalls the instruction which he has given in times past. So Delitzsch. But Gejerus gives them the combined force of the past and future, "I have taught and I will more fully teach," and so with the other verb. The Vulgate renders, monstrabo, "I will show," and ducam, "I will lead." In the way of wisdom (b'derek khok'mah) may mean "in the way that leads to, or by which you come to Wisdom; I have taught you the manner in which Wisdom may be attained;" or "the way in which Wisdom walks" (Zockler). The ways of Wisdom are described in Proverbs 3:17 as "ways of pleasantness." The next clause seems to indicate that the latter explanation is to be preferred. The (b) indicates the subject in which instruction has been given. In right paths (b'ma'g'le yosher); literally, in the paths of rectitude; i.e. of straightness, paths of which the characteristic is uprightness. (On "paths," as signifying a carriageway, see Proverbs 2:9.) Instruction and direction have formed the two elements in the father's teaching. These present us with a model of education. "To teach duty without truth is to teach practice without motive; to teach truth without duty is to teach motive without the practice to which it should lead" (Wardlaw). Proverbs 4:11

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

There is no reason for the supposition that the warning which his father gave to the poet now passes over into warnings given by the poet himself (Hitzig); the admonition of the father thus far refers only in general to the endeavour after wisdom, and we are led to expect that the good doctrines which the father communicates to the son as a viaticum will be further expanded, and become more and more specific when they take a new departure.

10 Hearken, my son, and receive my sayings,

     So shall the years of life be increased to thee.

11 In the way of wisdom have I taught thee,

     Guided thee in the paths of rectitude.

12 When thou goest, thy step shall not be straitened;

     And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

Regarding קח (of לקח) of appropriating reception and taking up in succum et sanguinem, vid., Proverbs 1:3; regarding שׁנות חיּים, years not merely of the duration of life, but of the enjoyment of life, Proverbs 3:2; regarding מעגּל (מעגּלה), path (track), Proverbs 2:9; regarding the בּ of הורה, of the department and subject of instruction, Psalm 25:8. The perfects, Proverbs 4:11, are different from נתתּי, 2a: they refer to rules of life given at an earlier period, which are summarily repeated in this address. The way of wisdom is that which leads to wisdom (Job 28:23); the paths of rectitude, such as trace out the way which is in accordance with the rule of the good and the right. If the youth holds to this direction, he will not go on in darkness or uncertainty with anxious footsteps; and if in youthful fervour he flies along his course, he will not stumble on any unforeseen obstacle and fall. יצר is as a metaplastic fut. to צרר or צוּר, to be narrow, to straiten, formed as if from יצר. The Targ. after Aruch,

(Note: R. Nathan ben Jechiel, a.d. 1106, who is usually styled by the Jewish writers בּעל ערוּך, Auctor Aruch, author of a Talmudical Lexicon.)

לא תשנק ארחך, thou shalt not need to bind together (constringere) or to hedge up thy way.