Proverbs 17:19

He loveth transgression that loveth strife,.... For strife is transgression, when it flows from a malignant spirit, is with bad views, about things to no profit, and for contention's sake; otherwise

He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. He loveth transgression that loveth strife - because strife both is itself a transgression, and is the source of many transgressions.

He loveth transgression that loveth strife, because contention is in itself a sin, and is commonly accompanied or followed with many sins, as detraction, malice, hatred, pride, &c. His gate; either, 1. His mouth, i.e. who speaketh loftily; for we read of the gate or doors of one’ s mouth in . and elsewhere; but then the word mouth or tongue is added to determine the sense: but the mouth is no where called the gate, simply or absolutely. Or, 2. The gate of his house that maketh it, and consequently his house, lofty and magnificent, beyond what befits his quality, which being an evidence and effect of pride and haughtiness of spirit, is here mentioned for all the rest. So the sense is, He who carries himself loftily and scornfully. Seeketh destruction; he seeks those things which will expose him to destruction, because he maketh himself odious both to God and men. Or, findeth destruction; seeking being put for finding or procuring, as above, .

Proverbs 17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.Ver. 19. He loveth transgression that loveth strife.] It is strange that any should love strife, that hellhag, εριςερυννις. And yet some, like trouts, love to swim against the stream; like salamanders, they live in the fire of contention; like Phocion, they hold it a goodly thing to dissent from others; like Pyrrhus, they are a "people that delight in war"; like David’ s enemies, "I am for peace," saith he (that was his motto), "but when I speak of it, they are for war." These unquiet spirits are of the devil doubtless, that turbulent creature, that troubler of God’ s Israel. He knows that "where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work," and that he loveth transgression that loveth strife; he taketh pleasure in sin, which is the cause of his unquietness. Good, therefore, and worthy of all acceptation is the council of the Psalmist, "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." He that "frets" much will soon be drawn to "do evil." "An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression" Hence our Saviour bids "have salt within yourselves"; that is, mortify your corruptions, and then "be at peace one with another." Hence also St James saith, that "the wisdom from above is first pure, and then peaceable." And St Paul oft joins faith and love together; there can be no true love to, and good agreement with men, till the heart be purified by faith from the love of sin. And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.] Eventually he seeketh it, though not intentionally. "That exalteth his gate," that is, his whole house - a part being put for the whole - which he that builds too sumptuously is in the ready road to beggary; the beggar will soon have him by the back, as they say; quaerit rupturam, he will shortly break. Others read the words thus, "And he enlargeth his gate that seeketh a breach"; that is, say they, he that picketh quarrels, and is contentious, setteth open a wide door to let in many mischiefs.

(19) He that exalteth his gate.—Builds himself a sumptuous house.

Verse 19. He that exalteth his gate] In different parts of Palestine they are obliged to have the doors of their courts and houses very low, not more than three feet high, to prevent the Arabs, who scarcely ever leave the backs of their horses, from riding into the courts and houses, and spoiling their goods. He, then, who, through pride and ostentation, made a high gate, exposed himself to destruction; and is said here to seek it, because he must know that this would be a necessary consequence of exalting his gate. But although the above is a fact, yet possibly gate is here taken for the mouth; and the exalting of the gate may mean proud boasting and arrogant speaking, such as has a tendency to kindle and maintain strife. And this interpretation seems to agree better with the scope of the context than the above.

19. exalteth] Or, raiseth high, R.V. Comp. Proverbs 16:18. See for illustrations of such “raising high the gate” and of the “destruction” that follows it, Jeremiah 22:13-19, and the case of Haman in the Book of Esther. The relation of pride to strife (Proverbs 13:10) supplies a connecting link between the two clauses of this verse.

He that exalteth his gate - i. e., Builds a stately house, indulges in arrogant ostentation.

19. He loveth transgression — Or sin: or, a lover of rebellion is a lover of war. It is uncertain which is subject and which is predicate. He that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction — That is, in effect.