Proverbs 29:14

The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) His throne shall be established for ever.—Comp. the promise made to Judah (Jeremiah 22:3-4).

Benson Commentary

Proverbs 29:14. The king that faithfully judgeth the poor — And the rich too; but he names the poor, because these are much oppressed and injured by others, and least regarded by princes, and yet committed to their more especial care by the King of kings.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

29:11. He is a fool who tells every thing he knows, and can keep no counsel. 12. One who loves flatterers, and hearkens to slanderers, causes his servants to become liars and false accusers. 13. Some are poor, others have a great deal of deceitful riches. They meet in the business of this world; the Lord gives to both the comforts of this life. To some of both sorts he gives his grace. 14. The rich will look to themselves, but the poor and needy the prince must defend and plead for. 15. Parents must consider the benefit of due correction, and the mischief of undue indulgence. 16. Let not the righteous have their faith and hope shocked by the increase of sin and sinners, but let them wait with patience. 17. Children must not be suffered to go without rebuke when they do amiss. 18. How bare does a place look without Bibles and ministers! and what an easy prey is it to the enemy of souls! That gospel is an open vision, which holds forth Christ, which humbles the sinner and exalts the Saviour, which promotes holiness in the life and conversation: and these are precious truths to keep the soul alive, and prevent it from perishing.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Better, The poor and the oppressor. "Usurer," as in the margin expresses the special form of oppression from which the poor suffer most at the hands of the rich. God has made them both and bestows His light equally on both.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. (Compare Pr 20:28; 25:5). Such is the character of the King of kings (Ps 72:4, 12).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Judgeth the poor, and the rich too; but he names

the poor, because these are most oppressed and injured by others, and least regarded by princes, and yet committed to their more special care by the King of kings.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The king that faithfully judgeth the poor,.... That truly executes justice and judgment among all his subjects, particularly the poor, who are too often neglected, because they cannot afford persons to plead their cause: such a king was Solomon; and especially the Messiah, of whom he was a type, Psalm 72:1;

his throne shall be established for ever; be secure to him as long as he lives, and to his posterity after; justice to all men, and mercy to the poor, are the support of a prince's throne; see Proverbs 20:28.

Geneva Study Bible

The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - The king that faithfully judgeth the poor (comp. Proverbs 16:12; Proverbs 20:28; Proverbs 25:5). Inflexible fidelity to duty is intended - that perfect impartiality, which dispenses justice alike to rich and poor, uninfluenced By personal or social considerations. His throne shall be established forever. Being founded on righteousness, it shall pass on to his descendants for many generations (comp. Jeremiah 22:3, etc.). The LXX., pointing differently, have, "His throne shall be established for a testimony" (lahed, instead of lahad). Proverbs 29:14

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

14 A king who judgeth the poor with truth,

     His throne shall stand for ever.

בּאמת, as at Isaiah 16:5 (synon. באמונה, במישׁרים, במישׁור), is equivalent to fidelity to duty, or a complete, full accomplishment of his duty as a ruler with reference to the dispensing of justice; in other words: after the norm of actual fact, and of the law, and of his duty proceeding from both together. מלך has in Codd., e.g., Jaman., and in the Venetian 1517, 21, rightly Rebia. In that which follows, שׁופט באמת are more closely related than באמת דלים, for of two conjunctives standing together the first always connects more than the second. מלך שׁופט באמת דלים is the truest representation of the logical grammatical relation. To 14b compare the proverb of the king, Proverbs 16:12; Proverbs 25:5.