Introduction
In this report I will analyze the seventeenth verse of the fifteenth chapter of the book of Proverbs, which says: “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” In this analysis I will dissect this verse in order to illustrate to you the wisdom that is to be found in this proverb. In addition, I will answer the question of how this proverb should apply to the world today.
Figure of Speech
Proverbs chapter fifteen, verse seventeen is an antithesis. An antithesis is defined as a setting of one phrase, in contrast with another, its direct opposite.1 It is obvious to see this figure of speech within the text, the words better and then almost give it away. The contrast in verse seventeen is of poverty (dinner of herbs) and wealth (fattened ox). As you well know, these are two direct opposites of one another, in contrast making this verse an antithesis.
Imagery
The imagery used in this proverb is that of a great poverty and wealth. The dinner party of the poor provides the reader with a visual of a dinner where the food is of little (dinner of herbs), but the love is great amongst those gathered to eat with one another. The dinner party of the wealthy provides the reader with a visual of a dinner with an overabundance of great food (a fattened ox) but the people are evil, selfish, and full of hatred.
Cultural Elements
There are cultural elements used in Proverbs chapter fifteen, verse seventeen. The description of food represents two classes of people from the time period when this text was originally written. The dinner of herbs was a typical dinner of this time amongst those who were in poverty. The dinner of the fattened ox was also a typical dinner of that time, but it was a dinner of the wealthy.
King Solomon’s Basis for writing this Proverb
From reading through the book of Proverbs it appears that the people of King Solomon’s day chased after riches at the cost of anything else in their life. I believe that this is the reason that he wrote this to the people to make them understand the consequences of their actions.
Can this Proverb Apply to the People of Today?
Unfortunately in this day and age, we still have the same problem that the people of King Solomon had in his day. The people of this world still chase after riches at any cost. They will be happy to lose everyone around them in order to be rich, if that is what it takes. This proverb is very much applicable to today’s people. Hopefully they will read it, understand it, and obey it.
The Moral Element of this Proverb
The moral to this story is to surround yourself with love and stay away from hatred. Love is of God and hatred is of the Devil. No matter how attractive those full of hatred may be, stay away.
The Concept of the Fear of the Lord in this Proverb
The connection between this verse and the concept of the “Fear of the Lord” is that those who fear the Lord flee from the things that God hates and run to the things that God loves. God despises hatred and embraces love, for God is Love. Therefore, those who fear the Lord would not embrace hatred.
The Wisdom Payoff Found in this Proverb
The wisdom payoff found in this proverb is the knowledge that to be in poverty and surrounded by love is better than to be rich and surrounded by hatred. This wisdom payoff should help young people in making a choice to devote their lives to love or to strive to become wealthy.
Explaining this Proverb to a Ten Year Old
If I was explaining this proverb to a ten year old I would tell he or she, that it is better to have only rice to eat everyday, for every meal, with people who love you, than to have a life in a castle, full of wealth with everything that you could ever want including great food, but be surrounded by only people who absolutely hate you. I think then they would understand the misery surrounding having great wealth and the greatness surrounding love, even if it might be in poverty.
The Role of Wisdom that this Proverb Presents to the Redeemed
Those who have been redeemed by grace, through faith in Christ should understand that we may not be wealthy or have everything that we desire, but we have love from our creator. A love greater than any love, for our Lord gave His very life out of love so that we could experience life with Him in heaven after we pass out of this life. The things of this world are passing away; we have an eternity to look forward to because of the love of God. Because of the great love that God has shown us, we should show love to others in whatever position we are in monetarily. We should never forsake love to chase after riches.
Summary
After studying this proverb I am able to recognize the great wisdom found in this text. The quality of a relationship is not based on being wealthy, for love can not be bought. Wealth will buy you all that you desire except love and salvation. With wealth comes hatred. After reading this great truth, what foolish person would still prefer to have wealth over love? This proverb definitely speaks truth, for you can see the results of one who chases after wealth and one who chases after love in our current day society. We see it all of the time, a person of great wealth; surrounded by hatred and discontentment. Even with all of their great possessions they still feel unfulfilled. This is because they do not have love and most importantly they do not recognize the love of the Lord that is available to them. We also see people who forsake wealth to demonstrate love to others, such as a missionary who has a law degree, but chooses to move to a third world country and eat only rice everyday, in poverty to share love with others, resulting in great happiness. The great truth of Proverbs chapter fifteen, verse seventeen is definitely alive in our world today. What will we do with this great wisdom?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
________. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
Ryken, Leland. How to Read the Bible as Literature. Zondervan, 1984
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