XXI. of a Paraemia or Proverb

    CHAPTER XXI. OF A PARAEMIA OR PROVERB

    THE generical consideration of a trope with respect to its continuation we have treated of in the last chapter; the special consideration of it, we will treat of in this. Which is either according to common use, and called paræmia, proverb, or an adagy; or with respect to its obscurity, and is called ænigma, or a riddle, or obscure allegory, The Hebrews call it XXXX, meshal, Eze 11:22; 18:2, from the root XXXX which takes its signification from comparing or ruling, that so XXXX may be a proverb, or a comparative speech or likeness, or as it were kuria gnwmh, a ruling sentence, which has the principal place in a speech, and by its weight and gravity it makes it more illustrious. What other acceptations this word hath, shall be shown (with divine assistance) in the second volume of this book. To the sense we hold to, the word paroimia, 2Pe 2:22, exactly agrees, which some think is derived para to oimov, a via, from, or, out of the way; that is, a departing from the vulgar or common way of speaking, or as others think from para oimon,[1.] præter vel juxta primum verbum, (for oimov signifies also a verb,) and from its sense is, as it were, another word and sense, as a proverb is called.

    [1.] Beyond or besides the word.

    In proverbs words properly taken, or tropes, or their affections are used; which last only concern us in this place. And both are either entire sentences or proverbial phrases, which by common use, are brought into a sentence.

    Proverbial sentences are to be read in Ge 10:9, and Ge 22:14; Nu 21:27; 1Sa 10:12; 24:14; 2Sa 5:8, and 2Sa 20:18; Jer 31:29; Eze 16:44; 18:2; Lu 4:23; Joh 4:37; 2Pe 2:22, in which places the Holy Spirit affirms that those sentences are become proverbs. There are other phrases kuriai gnwmai, to which the title of proverbs is not annexed, yet because of their emphaticalness, they are so esteemed: as De 25:4; 1Ki 8:46, and 1Ki 20:11; 2Ch 25:9; Job 6:5; 14:19; 27:19; 28:18; Ps 42:7, and Ps 62:9. Such is that famous sentence, Ps 111:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." See Pr 1:7, and Pr 9:10, with Job 28:28. There are many in the book called XXXX, the proverbs of Solomon, as Pr 1:17,32; 3:12; 6:6,27; 10:5,13,19,25; 11:15,22,27; 12:11,15; 15:2,33; 17:1,10,19,28; 19:2,24; 20:4,11,14,21,25; 22:6,13; 25:11,16,27; 26:4,10-11,14,17,28; 27:6-8,10,14,17,22; 28:21; 30:15, (&c.)

    So in the book of Ecclesiastes, (Ec 1:15,18; 4:5,12; 5:2,6,8-10; 6:9; 7:17; 9:4,18; 10:1-2,8-9,15,19-20; 11:3-4,6-7; 12:12.)

    In the prophets, Jer 13:23; 23:28; Eze 7:5; Mic 7:5-6; Hab 2:6; Mal 2:10.

    In the New Testament, Mt 5:13-15; 6:3,21,24,34; 7:2,5,16; 9:12,16; 10:10,22,24,26; 12:34; 13:12,57; 15:14; 23:23; 24:28; Mr 9:50; Lu 9:62; 12:48; 23:31; Ac 9:5; 20:35; 1Co 5:6; 10:12; 15:33; 2Co 9:6-7; 2Th 3:10; Tit 1:15.

    Here we must note that Christ and his apostles used several proverbs, or vulgar ways of speaking, common to the Jews, which were partly written in their old books, yea, even in the Talmud, as Mt 7:2; Mr 4:24; Lu 6:38, "With the same measure ye mete, the same shall be measured to you again," which is in the Talmud tract. Sanhedrim in these words, XX XXXX XX XXX XXXXX XXXXX, "By the same measure which ye shall measure, others will measure to you again." It is very plain in the Targum hierosolymitanum, Ge 38., in these words; "By what measure a man measures, by the same will others measure to him; as to good measure or bad measure." So the sentence, Mt 19:24, "It is easier for a camel," &c., is in the Talmud as Aug. Caninius says; "only it is said there, that an elephant cannot go through the eye of a needle, for which elephant, (a beast known to few) Christ said a camel, a beast well known in Syria." And the phrase, Lu 6:42, Buxtorfius in Glossatore Talmudico says, is also in the Talmud. And 2Th 3:10, "If any will not work, neither shall he eat." Drusius, 2 Tract. in Gen. magn. Bereschith Rabba Tract. Talmud; says the same phrase is in the Talmud. And doubtless the apostle thence took it. See Adag. sacra, written by Zelmer from the whole Bible in 5. Centur.

    Of proverbial phrases. See examples, Ex 11:7, that "a dog should not move his tongue," was a proverbial speech, denoting profound silence and peace in that place. Some refer this to a meiosis. See 1Sa 25:22,24; 1Ki 14:10, and 1Ki 16:11; 2Ki 9:8, which last was also a proverbial phrase, denoting extreme destruction, even to the vilest animal.

    See other proverbial speeches, 2Ki 14:26; De 32:36; Es 1:22; Job 16:10; Ps 3:7; La 3:39; Mic 4:13.

    See Isa 3:15; 2Co 11:10; Mt 5:39; Lu 6:29, with 1Ki 22:24; Joh 18:22; Ac 23:2; 1Co 4:11; Pr 26:17, and Pr 28:21; Eze 13:19; Mt 3:11; Joh 1:27; Mt 23:24.

    To kick against the pricks, was a proverbial speech, Ac 5:39; 9:5; 23:9; 26:14.

    The phrase, 1Co 13:13, "But he shall be saved yet so as by fire," is a proverbial speech, as if he had escaped from a conflagration. That is, as Illyricus says,[2] "Such a teacher is together with his stubble in the midst of a terrible incendium (or fire,) these being condemned by the judgment of God shall perish, but he by the singular favour of God, shall be preserved, though with much hazard and difficulty." See Ec 3:2; Am 4:11, (&c.)

    [2] Clav. Sript. Col. 870.