SEV Biblia, Chapter 25:13
Ā¶ Como frío de nieve en tiempo de la siega, así es el mensajero fiel a los que lo envían; pues al alma de su seńor da refrigerio.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 25:13
Verse 13. As the cold of snow ] That snow was frequent in Judea, is well known; and that in the East they have snow- houses-places dug under ground, where they lay up snow for summer use-is also a fact. By means of the mass of snow desposited in them the icy temperature is kept up, so that the snow is easily preserved. The common method of cooling their wine, which is as easy as it is effectual, is by dipping a cloth in water, wrapping it round the bottle, and then hanging the bottle in the heat of the sun. The strong evaporation carries off the caloric from the wine, and the repetition of the wet cloth in the same exposure, makes the wine almost as cold as ice. How agreeable this must be in a burning climate, may be easily conceived.
Perhaps it is this to which the wise man refers; for it is a fact that they could have no snow in harvest unless such as had been preserved as mentioned above; but this could be only in a few places, and within the reach of a very few persons. But cooling their liquors by the simple mode of evaporation already explained, was within the reach even of the labourers in the harvest field. I think the text favours this supposition; for gl¨ tnxk ketsinnerth sheleg, need not be referred to snow itself procuring cold, but to a coldness like that of snow, procured by evaporation. If this interpretation be allowed, all difficulty will be removed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest , etc.] As water as cold as snow; or as a breeze of air, such as in a time of snow; and so Jarchi, “as the cold of the days of snow, which a man desires in summer, and not snow simply, for snow itself is not good in the time of harvest;” (see Proverbs 24:1). Or rather “as a shield” or “covering of snow” f682 , as the word signifies: perhaps, as Gussetius thanks, a vessel in such a form, in which snow was kept in summer, is meant; and the same word, the two first radical letters being doubled, is used for the pot, or urn, in which the manna was kept, ( Exodus 16:33). As snow, that in those hot countries used to be kept in vessels, in places underground, to cool their drink with in summertime; just as ice is kept with us, in like places, for the same purpose; and then the sense is, as drink cooled with snow is very agreeable, and exceeding refreshing to those that labour in the field in the time of harvest; [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters : such an one that is sent with a message, and faithfully executes it, while he is gone, the mind of his master is very thoughtful about the it sue and success of it; but when he returns and gives him an account of it, and especially when he succeeds to his wish; it “restores” and settles his mind, as the word signifies; and gives him a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction, and renders the messenger dear and valuable to him. Christ is the messenger, one of a thousand, sent by his divine Father on a message of grace and salvation, in which he has succeeded being faithful to him that appointed him; and so exceeding acceptable to him, his servant, his elect, in whom his soul delighteth! Gospel ministers are messengers, and faithful ones, whose feet are beautiful, and their words acceptable to souls to whom they are sent, and are a sweet savour to him that sent them; and who will commend them as good and faithful servants, and appoint them rulers over many cities, and introduce them into his joy.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13 - See what ought to be the aim of him that is trusted with any business to be faithful. A faithful minister, Christ's messenger, should be thu acceptable to us.
Original Hebrew
כצנת 6793 שׁלג 7950 ביום 3117 קציר 7105 ציר 6735 נאמן 539 לשׁלחיו 7971 ונפשׁ 5315 אדניו 113 ישׁיב׃ 7725
