SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:4
para dar prudencia a los simples, y a los jóvenes inteligencia y consejo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:4
Verse 4. To give subtilty to the simple ] The word simple, from simplex, compounded of sine, without, and plica, a fold, properly signifies plain and honest, one that has no by-ends in view, who is what he appears to be; and is opposed to complex, from complico, to fold together, to make one rope or cord out of many strands; but because honesty and plaindealing are so rare in the world, and none but the truly religious man will practice them, farther than the fear of the law obliges him, hence simple has sunk into a state of progressive deterioration. At first, it signified, as above, without fold, unmixed, uncompounded: this was its radical meaning. Then, as applied to men, it signified innocent, harmless, without disguise; but, as such persons were rather an unfashionable sort of people, it sunk in its meaning to homely, homespun, mean, ordinary. And, as worldly men, who were seeking their portion in this life, and had little to do with religion, supposed that wisdom, wit, and understanding, were given to men that they might make the best of them in reference to the things of this life, the word sunk still lower in its meaning, and signified silly, foolish; and there, to the dishonour of our language and morals, it stands! I have taken those acceptations which I have marked in Italics out of the first dictionary that came to hand- Martin's; but if I had gone to Johnson, I might have added to SILLY, not wise, not cunning. Simplicity, that meant at first, as MARTIN defines it, openness, plaindealing, downright honesty, is now degraded to weakness, silliness, foolishness. And these terms will continue thus degraded, till downright honesty and plaindealing get again into vogue. There are two Hebrew words generally supposed to come from the same root, which in our common version are rendered the simple, µyatp pethaim, and µytp or µyytp pethayim; the former comes from atp patha, to be rash, hasty; the latter, from htp pathah, to draw aside, seduce, entice. It is the first of these words which is used here, and may be applied to youth; the inconsiderate, the unwary, who, for want of knowledge and experience, act precipitately. Hence the Vulgate renders it parvulis, little ones, young children, or little children, as my old MS.; or very babes, as Coverdale. The Septuagint renders it akakoiv, those that are without evil; and the versions in general understand it of those who are young, giddy, and inexperienced.
To the young man ] r[n naar is frequently used to signify such as are in the state of adolescence, grown up boys, very well translated in my old MS. "yunge fulwaxen"; what we would now call the grown up lads.
These, as being giddy and inexperienced, stand in especial need of lessons of wisdom and discretion. The Hebrew for discretion, hmzm mezimmah, is taken both in a good and bad sense, as µz zam, its root, signifies to devise or imagine; for the device may be either mischief, or the contrivance of some good purpose.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. To give subtlety to the simple , etc.] Men of mean abilities, weak capacities, shallow understandings, incautious, credulous, and easily imposed upon: these, by attending to what is herein contained, may arrive to a serpentine subtlety; though they are simple and harmless as doves, may become as wise as serpents; may attain to an exquisite knowledge of divine things and know even more than the wise and sage philosophers among the Gentiles, or any of the Rabbins and masters of Israel; or any of the princes of this world, whose wisdom comes to nought; and become very cautious and circumspect how they are drawn aside by the old serpent the devil, or by such who lie in wait to deceive; and perform their duty both to God and man; to the young man knowledge and discretion ; or “thought” f9 ; who wants both: this book will teach him the knowledge of things moral, civil, and religious: to think and act aright; how to behave and conduct himself wisely and discreetly before men; and be a means of forming his mind betimes for piety and religion; and of furnishing him with rules for his deportment in future life, in all the periods of it; and in whatsoever state and condition he may come into. A “young man [may] cleanse his way”, ( <19B909> Psalm 119:9), reform his manners, behave with purity and uprightness, by taking “heed” to the things herein contained.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - The lessons here given are plain, and likely to benefit those who fee their own ignorance, and their need to be taught. If young people tak heed to their ways, according to Solomon's Proverbs, they will gai knowledge and discretion. Solomon speaks of the most important point of truth, and a greater than Solomon is here. Christ speaks by his wor and by his Spirit. Christ is the Word and the Wisdom of God, and he is made to us wisdom.
Original Hebrew
לתת 5414 לפתאים 6612 ערמה 6195 לנער 5288 דעת 1847 ומזמה׃ 4209
