There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
Parallel Translations
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There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
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There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
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There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Cross-references (17)
Passages linked to Proverbs 21:20 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Matthew 25:3-4 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
- Psalms 112:3 Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.
- Ecclesiastes 5:19 Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.
- Proverbs 15:6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
- Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
- Proverbs 10:22 Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
- Luke 15:14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
- Ecclesiastes 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
- Jeremiah 41:8 But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey.” So he stopped, and didn’t kill them among their brothers.
- Matthew 6:19-20 “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;
- Luke 6:45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
- Luke 16:1 He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
- Job 20:15 He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
- Job 20:18 He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.
- Matthew 25:8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
- Luke 16:19-25 “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’ “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted, and you are in anguish.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (17 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Meaning, abundance of all things.
Meaning, abundance of all things.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 21:20 [There is] treasure to be desired and…
Pro 21:20 [There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
Ver. 20. There is a treasure to be desired.] He had said before, He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. Here he shows, that though these things may not be loved or lavished, yet they may and must be had and heaped up in a way of good husbandry for necessity, yea, for honest affluence; that we may not only live, but live comfortably; that we may not only have prisoner’s pittance, so much as will keep us alive, but that we may have plenty of things desirable, both for profit, as treasure, and for delight, as oil. And these things must not be foolishly wasted, as they are usually by unthrifts, lest that make the wife that wants angry and unquiet, as in the former verse.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Wise men lay up all necessary and desirable treasures…
Wise men lay up all necessary and desirable treasures for their own use, and for their children and families.
Oil is particularly mentioned, partly because that was a considerable part of their wealth and treasures in those countries, of which see Deu 7:13; 28:40,51; Jdg 9:9; Mic 5:15, &c.; and partly to show that his providence reached not only to necessaries, but even to matters of just and lawful delight.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain Note, 1. Those that are wise will increase what…
Note, 1. Those that are wise will increase what they have and live plentifully; their wisdom will teach them to proportion their expenses to their income and to lay up for hereafter; so that there is a treasure of things to be desired, and as much as needs be desired, a good stock of all things convenient, laid up in season, and particularly of oil, one of the staple commodities of Canaan, Deu 8:8. This is in the habitation, or cottage, of the wise; and it is better to have an old-fashioned house, and have it well furnished, than a fine modern one, with sorry housekeeping. God blesses the endeavors of the wise and then their houses are replenished. 2. Those that are foolish will misspend what they have upon their lusts, and so bring the stock they have to nothing. Those manage wretchedly that are in haste to spend what they had, but not in care which way to get more. Foolish children spend what their wise parents have laid up. One sinner destroys much good, as the prodigal son.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain There is a treasure to be desired,.... Gold, silver,…
There is a treasure to be desired,.... Gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones; all sorts food, as Aben Ezra explains it, and rich and costly, raiment; all which may be lawfully desired and sought after, and, when obtained, laid up for future use; which may be spared for their own service and that of posterity: but there are riches of grace, a pearl of great price and treasure in heaven, more desirable than these, Mat 6:19;
and oil in the dwelling of the wise; which is particularly mentioned, because a principal blessing of the land of Canaan; much used for food, and was for delight and refreshment: and something of this was in the house of every wise, provident, and industrious man, for the use of him and his family; even though he lived but in a "cottage", as the word (f) signifies this is an emblem of the grace of God, which is sometimes compared to oil; which a wise man is chiefly concerned, that it may be in his heart, in his house, and in his family;
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but a foolish man spendeth it up; the oil; he swallows it up at once, as soon as he has got it, and wastes and lavishes away what his wise father had provided for him. This may refer not to oil only, but to the desired treasure, wealth, riches, substance of every sort, he is heir to and becomes possessed of; and which, in a spiritual sense, may be applied to a foolish wicked man, who misspends his time, neglects the means of grace, and all opportunities by which men grow rich and wise in spiritual things; see Mat 25:1.
(f) "tuguirolum", Mercerus, Gejerus.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain The wise - Wise men lay up desirable treasures…
The wise - Wise men lay up desirable treasures for their own use, and for their families. Oil is particularly mentioned, because that was a considerable part of their wealth and treasures in those countries.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 21:20. There is a treasure, &c., in the…
Pro 21:20. There is a treasure, &c., in the dwelling of the wise — Wise men lay up all necessary and desirable treasures for their own use and for their families. Oil is particularly mentioned, because it was a considerable part of their wealth and treasures in those countries; but a foolish man spendeth it — Or, as Houbigant renders the clause, A foolish man will dissipate these; or, as Schultens reads it, A foolish man, a man given to luxury and extravagance, absorbs it; “that is, all that desirable treasure and opulence which his wise and careful father had abundantly laid up.”
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Spendeth it up - literally, swalloweth it. The wise…
Spendeth it up - literally, swalloweth it. The wise man keeps a store in reserve. He gains uprightly, spends moderately, never exhausts himself. But the proverb may have also a higher application. The wise man stores up all “treasure to be desired” of wisdom, all “oil” of divine influence, which strengthens and refreshes, and so is ready at all times for the work to which the Master calls him. Compare Mat 25:1-13.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain To love an earthly treasure is the way to…
To love an earthly treasure is the way to poverty. (Pro 21:17 .) Yet we may thankfully enjoy the prudent gathering, as the fruit of the LORD’s blessing (Pro 10:22 ), like the oil of Canaan,†1 for refreshment. This is not the forbidden "laying up for ourselves treasures upon earth" (Mat 6:19 ), a hoarding for selfishness and distrust of God. (Luk 12:16-22 .) This treasure is in the dwelling of the wise. For prudence is not worldliness (Pro 10:5 . Gen 41:48 ); an indifference to coming trial, is not faith, but foolish simplicity. (Pro 22:3 .)
Even the cottage of the godly poor often contains this desirable treasure, the reward of Christian diligence. Yet poor indeed is the palace, where the Bible with its stores of unsearchable riches is not the grand treasure, and where the oil of gladness, while it poureth out richly, is not his choicest comfort.†2 Wherever this treasure is pre-eminently prized, this is the dwelling of the wise, whether it be the prince or the pauper. And, as Cecil, Queen Elizabeth’s Secretary, said, on leaving Bernard Gilpin’s house — ’There dwells as much happiness as can be known on earth’ — how shall we joy to be found in the same world with such men!
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But whatever be the treasure of the foolish man, or however obtained, his improvidence is a wide gulf to spend it up. All goes one way. Drunkenness, wasteful expenditure, idleness, gambling, devours it all. He serves a master, who will leave him nothing at the year’s end, and as the only reward of his drudgery, will bring him to utter destitution. Such was the prodigal’s course; yet in the gracious mercy of his Father the means of changing him from his folly into a better mind, and bringing him to the dwelling of the wise; a possessor of a treasure more desirable, than his earthly appetite had longed for. (Luk 15:13-24 .)
But there are other foolish men besides the drunkard and the spend-thrift; and other treasure infinitely more desirable, that is spent up. Admission to the dwelling of the wise — the opportunity of thus growing rich in knowledge and holiness (Pro 13:20 ) — what a "price would it be in the hands of a fool," had he but "an heart for it!" But the golden moment is lost; the treasure is spent up. Time is wasted in reckless frivolity of pursuit in innumerable ways. The entire absence of an holy aim in his daily employments deadens all sense of responsibility. He lives only as the creature of the present moment, with no object connected with eternity. Oh! my God! leave me not to my own folly, lest I spend up my treasure, instead of trading with it, and thus enlarging it for my best welfare.
Footnotes:
†1 See note on verse 17. (Note, This refers to a footnote on Pro 21:17, middle of the first paragraph at the end of this sentence: ",,, one of the most precious fruits of Canaan† ,,,". That footnote reads as follows: Deu 8:8 ; Deu 11:14 . Jdg 9:9 . Psa 23:5 . Mic 6:15 . Hab 3:17 .)
†2 Treasure and oil are mentioned; first the general term, then one of its valuable items. A similar idiom may be found, Mar 16:7 . (? Note to e-Sword users: This is an incorrect reference. Mar 16:17 reads: "But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Treasure of provisions. Temporal blessings were promised as a…
Treasure of provisions. Temporal blessings were promised as a figure of more lasting ones, which are set before Christians.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain The wise, by diligence and care, lay up and…
The wise, by diligence and care, lay up and increase wealth, while fools
spend--literally, "swallow it up," greedily.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 20. Treasure to be desired — All desirable stores,…
20. Treasure to be desired — All desirable stores, including oil, the emblem of abundance and comfort.
Dwelling — Abode or cottage. The word seems to imply comeliness, beauty.
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Foolish man — Or, fool of a man, as in Pro_15:20.
Spendeth it up — Rather, swallows it down. The wise man uses prudently his stores, and has plenty; the fool lavishly devours them, and has nothing. In its spiritual application, compare the parable of the virgins, Mat_25:1-13.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 20. spendeth] Lit. swalloweth, R.V. So LXX. καταπίονται; but…
20. spendeth] Lit. swalloweth, R.V. So LXX. καταπίονται; but Vulg. dissipabit.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain There is treasure to be desired and oil in…
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise. Precious treasure and store of provision and rich unguents (ver. 17) are collected in the house of the wise man, by which he may fare sumptuously, exercise hospitality, and lay up for the future. (comp. Pro_24:4) But a foolish man spendeth it up. "A fool of a man" (Pro_15:20) soon swallows, runs through and exhausts, all that has been accumulated (ver. 17). Septuagint, "A desirable epiyumhto treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise, but foolish men will swallow it up." It is obvious to apply the maxim to spiritual things, seeing in it the truth that the really wise man stores up treasures of Divine love and the oil of God"s grace, while the foolish man wastes his opportunities, squanders his powers, and drives the Holy Spirit from him.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain There is treasure to be desired . . .…
Pro_21:20
There is treasure to be desired . . . in the dwelling of the wise.
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Treasure in the house; or proverbs of home-life
One simple Saxon word has talismanic power over every heart. That word is home. Who of us can forget our home and home-life in the past? We are now what our mothers made us in that far-off time of childhood. Great are the responsibilities of home-life, for it is the seedtime of the eternal harvest. God Himself instituted the family relationship as one of His antidotes for Satans various enticements. Terrible is the vengeance God exacts for the violation of His laws of love. Education cannot be confined to the school, academy, or college. The true educators are the street and the home. God has given to parents a mighty instrument for good in the family relationship. But home-life and home-lessons will avail little without home-love. And there should be real and attractive pleasures by the fireside and round the home-table. Obedience, truth, and love will give us treasure in the house, and will clothe us with the ornaments of grace in our earthly homes. The same qualities of mind and temper exercised towards the great All-Father in heaven will make us meet for the house above, and lay up for us there treasures that shall never fail. (Wm. Stevens Perry, D. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain v. 20. There is treasure to be desired and…
v. 20. There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, because he will carefully lay up and increase wealth; but a foolish man spendeth it up, he is a spendthrift and a waster.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 21:20 See also 3:9-10, 15-16; 10:15, 16, 22; 14:24.
21:20 See also 3:9-10, 15-16; 10:15, 16, 22; 14:24.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.