Proverbs 16:31

The hoary head [is] a crown of glory,.... Gray hairs, white locks through age are very ornamental; look very beautiful, bespeak gravity, wisdom, and prudence, and command reverence and respect; with

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

A crown of glory; a great honour and ornament, as it is a singular blessing of God, a token of great experience and prudence, as it comes nearest to God, who is called the Ancient of days, . If it be found in the way of righteousness; if it be accompanied with true piety, otherwise an old sinner is accursed, . Heb. it shall be found, &c. This is a privilege promised to righteous persons, 4:22; whereas ungodly men shall not live out half their days, .

Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head [is] a crown of glory, [if] it be found in the way of righteousness.Ver. 31. The hoary head is a crown of glory.] Old age and honour are of great affinity in the Greek tongue. God gave order that the aged should be honoured. “ Credebant hoc grande nefas, et morro piandum, Si iuvenis vetulo non assurrexerat. ” - Juvenal, sat. 13. There is a certain plant (which our herbalists call herbam impiam, or wicked cudweed) whose younger branches still yield flowers to overtop the elder. Such weeds grow too rife abroad. It is an ill soil that produceth them. If it be found in the way of righteousness.] Canities tunc venerabilis est, quando ea gerit quae canitiem decent, &c., saith old Chrysostom. Hoariness is then only honourable when it doth such things as become such an age; else it is mucor potius quam canities, rather filthy mouldiness than venerable hoar headedness. Manna, the longer it was kept against the command of God, the more it stank. What can be more odious than an old goat, an old fornicator? &c. What more ridiculous than puer centum annorum, a child, of fourscore or a hundred years old? Turpis et ridieulosa res est elementarius senex, saith Seneca. An A B C old man is a shameful sight. Nectarius, that succeeded Nazianzen at Antioch, had little else to commend him to the place but a goodly gray beard and a graceful countenance. Whereas of Abraham it is reported that he went to his grave in a good old age, or, as the Hebrew hath it, with a good gray head. Pluck out the gray hairs of virtue, and the gray head cannot shine with any great glory. Cognata sunt, γηρας et γερας, ut ηθος et εθος. The common name for the genus Gnaphalium of composite plants, having chaffy scales surrounding the flower heads; originally proper to G. sylvaticum; extended to other plants, of allied genera, or similar appearance. In Epist. ad Heb., ser. 7. Arsatius succeeded Chrysostom, being an old dotal of eighty years, " quem pisces facundia ranae agilitate superabant." Sen. Epist. 62, ad Lucil. Veneranda canities, et vultus sacerdote dignus - Baron.

(31) If it be found in the way of righteousness.—Rather, it is found; old age being promised as the reward of obedience. (Comp. Proverbs 3:1-2; Proverbs 3:16; Proverbs 4:10; Proverbs 9:11; Proverbs 10:27.)

Verse 31. The hoary head is a crown of glory] The latter part of the verse is very well added, for many a sinner has a hoary head.

31. if it be found] Rather, it shall be found, R.V. text. “Decus et ornamentum est senectus, senectus vero præmium virtutis,” Maur. Comp. Proverbs 3:2; Proverbs 3:16.

Omit “if.” Literally, “it (i. e., the hoary head) is found in the way of righteousness,” comes as the reward of righteousness.

31. A crown of glory — A glorious, splendid, or beautiful crown.