He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded. He who despises instructionThe Hebrew word for "despises" is "בּוּז" (buz), which conveys a sense of contempt or disdain. In the ancient Near Eastern context, instruction was not merely academic but a way of life, encompassing moral, ethical, and spiritual guidance. To despise instruction is to reject the wisdom and guidance that God provides through His Word and through those He has placed in authority. This rejection is not just intellectual but a heart posture that refuses to acknowledge the value of divine wisdom. will pay the penalty
The phrase "will pay the penalty" suggests a consequence that is both inevitable and just. The Hebrew root "שָׁלַם" (shalam) implies a sense of completeness or fulfillment, indicating that the penalty is a natural outcome of one's actions. In the biblical worldview, actions have consequences, and rejecting God's wisdom leads to spiritual and often physical repercussions. This reflects the principle of sowing and reaping found throughout Scripture. but the one who respects a command
The word "respects" comes from the Hebrew "יָרֵא" (yare), which can also mean to fear or revere. This is not a fear of terror but a deep reverence and awe for God's authority and His commandments. A "command" in this context refers to God's directives, which are designed for our well-being and flourishing. Respecting a command is an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and wisdom, and it aligns one's life with His divine order. will be rewarded
The concept of reward here is rooted in the Hebrew "שָׁלַם" (shalam), similar to the word for penalty, but in a positive sense. It implies a sense of peace, fulfillment, and blessing that comes from living in accordance with God's will. The reward is not merely material but encompasses spiritual growth, inner peace, and eternal blessings. This reflects the biblical promise that obedience to God leads to a life of abundance and joy, both in this life and the life to come. Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally regarded as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs are intended to impart wisdom and understanding. 2. The Wise and the FoolishThroughout Proverbs, these two archetypes are used to illustrate the outcomes of different life choices. The wise person respects instruction, while the foolish person despises it. 3. Ancient IsraelThe cultural and historical context of Proverbs is ancient Israel, where wisdom literature was a key component of teaching and moral instruction. Teaching Points The Value of InstructionInstruction is a gift that leads to wisdom and understanding. Despising it results in negative consequences, while respecting it brings rewards. The Consequences of Despising WisdomIgnoring or rejecting wise counsel leads to a "penalty," which can manifest as personal, relational, or spiritual setbacks. Respect for Authority and CommandRespecting commands, whether divine or human, is a sign of humility and wisdom. It aligns us with God's will and brings blessings. The Role of Discipline in Spiritual GrowthDiscipline, though sometimes uncomfortable, is essential for growth. Embracing it leads to maturity and deeper faith. Practical Application of WisdomApplying wisdom in daily life involves listening to and acting upon godly advice, leading to a life that honors God and benefits others. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of respecting instruction in Proverbs 13:13 relate to the broader biblical theme of wisdom? 2. In what ways can despising instruction manifest in our daily lives, and what are the potential consequences? 3. How can we cultivate a heart that respects and seeks out wise counsel, both from Scripture and from godly mentors? 4. Reflect on a time when you either respected or despised instruction. What were the outcomes, and what did you learn from the experience? 5. How can the principles in Proverbs 13:13 be applied to modern-day challenges, such as decision-making in personal or professional contexts? Connections to Other Scriptures Proverbs 1:7This verse introduces the theme of wisdom and the fear of the Lord as the beginning of knowledge, contrasting the wise and the foolish. Hebrews 12:11This New Testament verse discusses the value of discipline and instruction, aligning with the idea that respecting commands leads to reward. James 1:22-25These verses emphasize the importance of not only hearing the word but also doing it, which parallels the concept of respecting and following commands. People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Bringeth, Brings, Command, Commandment, Debt, Despises, Despiseth, Despising, Destroyed, Destruction, Feareth, Fearing, Fears, Held, Instruction, Law, Makes, Pay, Repayed, Respecter, Respects, Rewarded, Sport, Suffer, TherebyDictionary of Bible Themes Proverbs 13:13 5501 reward, human Library The Tillage of the Poor
'Much food is in the tillage of the poor.'--PROVERBS xiii. 23. Palestine was a land of small peasant proprietors, and the institution of the Jubilee was intended to prevent the acquisition of large estates by any Israelite. The consequence, as intended, was a level of modest prosperity. It was 'the tillage of the poor,' the careful, diligent husbandry of the man who had only a little patch of land to look after, that filled the storehouses of the Holy Land. Hence the proverb of our text arose. It …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Poor Rich and the Rich Poor
'There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.'--PROVERBS xiii. 7. Two singularly-contrasted characters are set in opposition here. One, that of a man who lives like a millionaire and is a pauper; another, that of a man who lives like a pauper and is rich. The latter character, that of a man who hides and hoards his wealth, was, perhaps, more common in the days when this collection of Proverbs was put together, because in all ill-governed …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Practical Methods of Studying the Old Testament
[Sidenote: The various methods of approach] The Old Testament may be studied as literature, as history, as the record of an important stage in the evolution of religion, as the revelation of God to the race, or as a practical aid to the individual in living the true life. Each angle of approach calls for different methods and yields its correspondingly rich results. Studied in accordance with the canons of modern literary investigation, a literature is disclosed of surpassing variety, beauty, and …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Song of the Redeemed
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou ... hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation ... T he extent, variety, and order of the creation, proclaim the glory of God. He is likewise, ^* Maximus in Minimis . The smallest of the works, that we are capable of examining, such for instance as the eye or the wing of a little insect, the creature of a day, are stamped with an inimitable impression of His wisdom and power. Thus in His written Word, there …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 The Heavenly Footman; Or, a Description of the Man that Gets to Heaven:
TOGETHER WITH THE WAY HE RUNS IN, THE MARKS HE GOES BY; ALSO, SOME DIRECTIONS HOW TO RUN SO AS TO OBTAIN. 'And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain: escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.'--Genesis 19:17. London: Printed for John Marshall, at the Bible in Gracechurch Street, 1698. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. About forty years ago a gentleman, in whose company I had commenced my …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 "And this is his Commandment," &C.
1 John iii. 23.--"And this is his commandment," &c. There are different tempers of mind among men, some more smooth and pliable, others more refractory and froward. Some may be persuaded by love, who cannot be constrained by fear. With some a request will more prevail than a command. Others again are of a harsher disposition. Love and condescension doth rather embolden them, and therefore they must be restrained with the bridle of authority. It would seem that the Lord hath some regard to this in …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Second Sunday after Easter
Text: First Peter 2, 20-25. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance.
The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall, 1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel T here is a species of the sublime in writing, which seems peculiar to the Scripture, and of which, properly, no subjects but those of divine revelation are capable, With us, things inconsiderable in themselves are elevated by splendid images, which give them an apparent importance beyond what they can justly claim. Thus the poet, when describing a battle among bees, by a judicious selection of epithets …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 "But if Ye have Bitter Envying and Strife in Your Hearts, Glory Not," &C.
James iii. 14.--"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not," &c. It is a common evil of those who hear the gospel, that they are not delivered up to the mould and frame of religion that is holden out in it, but rather bring religion into a mould of their own invention. It was the special commendation of the Romans, that they obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine into which they were delivered, (Rom. vi. 17) that they who were once servants, or slaves of sin, had now …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning "But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all These Things Shall be Added unto You. "
Matth. vi. 33.--"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." The perfection even of the most upright creature, speaks always some imperfection in comparison of God, who is most perfect. The heavens, the sun and moon, in respect of lower things here, how glorious do they appear, and without spot! But behold, they are not clean in God's sight! How far are the angels above us who dwell in clay! They appear to be a pure mass of light and …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
Having spoken of the general notion of blessedness, I come next to consider the subjects of this blessedness, and these our Saviour has deciphered to be the poor in spirit, the mourners, etc. But before I touch upon these, I shall attempt a little preface or paraphrase upon this sermon of the beatitudes. 1 Observe the divinity in this sermon, which goes beyond all philosophy. The philosophers use to say that one contrary expels another; but here one contrary begets another. Poverty is wont to expel …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Proverbs 13:13 NIVProverbs 13:13 NLTProverbs 13:13 ESVProverbs 13:13 NASBProverbs 13:13 KJV
Proverbs 13:13 Commentaries
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