First of all, Proverbs is hard for me to do a lot of traditional study material on.  It feels like these are more short general truths that should just be discussed in class as we work to internalize.  So I’m not sure I will continue posting a lot on Proverbs for now, but probably some…

Here are a few ideas for this passage:

• V 1: What is it about measuring devices that either infuriates or delights the Lord?
  • Scriptures that talk about it?
    • Lev 19:35 You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity.
    • Deu 25:13 You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small.
• 2: Pride/humility
  • If you are proud, there is only one way to go (down).   Disgrace…does God perhaps intentionally give the proud extra disgrace?

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

• But why is there wisdom with the humble? Is it correct to say that humility breeds wisdom?

• Righteous: a prominent theme in this passage (vs 3-11).
  • What does it mean to be righteous? What is righteousness?
    • Synonyms in this passage (ESV): Integrity, upright.  Antonyms: crookedness, treacherous, but mostly wicked/wickedness.

Definitions of Hebrew terms for Righteous and Wicked:

H3477 (UPRIGHT)

ישׁר

yâshâr

yaw-shawr’

From H3474; straight (literally or figuratively): – convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet (-est), + pleased well right (-eous), straight, (most) upright (-ly, -ness).

 

H6666 (RIGHTEOUSNESS)

צדקה

tsedâqâh

tsed-aw-kaw’

From H6663; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity): – justice, moderately, right (-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).

 

H6662 (RIGHTEOUS/JUst)

צדּיק

tsaddı̂yq

tsad-deek’

From H6663; just: – just, lawful, righteous (man).

 

H898 (TRANSGRESSORS)

בּגד

bâgad

baw-gad’

A primitive root; to cover (with a garment); figuratively to act covertly; by implication to pillage: – deal deceitfully (treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress (-or), (depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful (-ly, man), X very.

 

H7563 (WICKED)

רשׁע

râshâ‛

raw-shaw’

From H7561; morally wrong; concretely an (actively) bad person: –  + condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.