Proverbs 23:16

Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) My reins shall rejoice.—These being represented in Hebrew poetry as the seat of the deepest affections, answering to “heart” in Proverbs 23:15. (Comp. Psalm 7:9; Jeremiah 12:2; Revelation 2:23.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:12-16 Here is a parent instructing his child to give his mind to the Scriptures. Here is a parent correcting his child: accompanied with prayer, and blessed of God, it may prove a means of preventing his destruction. Here is a parent encouraging his child, telling him what would be for his good. And what a comfort it would be, if herein he answered his expectation! 17,18. The believer's expectation shall not be disappointed; the end of his trials, and of the sinner's prosperity, is at hand.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The teacher rejoices when the disciple's heart Proverbs 23:15 receives wisdom, and yet more when his lips can utter it.

Reins - See Job 19:27 note.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16. my reins—(Compare Ps 7:9).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

I shall rejoice not only in show and profession, but inwardly, and with all my soul.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Yea, my reins shall rejoice,.... Which is only another phrase expressive of the same thing, and confirming the greatness of joy on the above occasion; not only his heart rejoiced, which was affectionately concerned for his son, near which he lay, the desires of which were frequently drawn out for his good, but his reins also; the seat of the afflictions rejoiced at it; showing how vehement, sincere, and hearty the joy was;

when thy lips speak right things; as they will, when the heart is wise; things agreeably to right reason, to the Scriptures of truth, the oracles of God; to the law and to the testimony; to the Gospel of Christ, and the doctrines of it; and such things as are savoury, pleasant, and profitable, and minister grace to the hearers. The Targum is,

"when my lips speak right things;''

see Proverbs 8:6.

Geneva Study Bible

Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - My reins shall rejoice. The "reins" (kelayoth), kidneys, are regarded as the seat of feeling and sensation (Job 19:27). or of the inner nature generally (Psalm 16:7; Revelation 2:22). I shall rejoice in my very soul when thy lips speak right things; i.e. when thy heart is so replete with wisdom, thy mind so well instructed as to utter naught but what is true and sensible (Proverbs 8:6). The composition of these two verses is noteworthy, 15a being parallel to 16b, and. 15b to 16a. Septuagint, "And thy lips shall linger in words (ἐνδιατρίψει λόγοις) with my lips, if they be right," which seems to mean, "If thy lips utter what is right, they will gather wisdom from my words and impart it to others." Proverbs 23:16

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The following proverb passes from the educator to the pupil:

15 My son, if thine heart becometh wise,

     My heart also in return will rejoice;

16 And my reins will exult

     If thy lips speak right things.

Wisdom is inborn in no one. A true Arab. proverb says, "The wise knows how the fool feels, for he himself was also once a fool;"

(Note: The second part of the saying is, "But a fool knows not how a wise man feels, for he has never been a wise man." I heard this many years ago, from the mouth of the American missionary Schaufler, in Constantinople.)

and folly is bound up in the heart of a child, according to Proverbs 22:15, which must be driven out by severe discipline. 15b, as many others, cf. Proverbs 22:19, shows that these "words of the wise" are penetrated by the subjectivity of an author; the author means: if thy heart becomes wise, so will mine in return, i.e., corresponding to it (cf. גּם, Genesis 20:6), rejoice. The thought of the heart in Proverbs 23:15 repeats itself in Proverbs 23:16, with reference to the utterance of the mouth. Regarding מישׁרים, vid., Proverbs 1:5. Regarding the "reins," כּליות (perhaps from כּלה, to languish, Job 19:21), with which the tender and inmost affections are connected, vid., Psychologie, p. 268f.