Proverbs 22:1

A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches,.... The word "good" is not in the text, but is rightly supplied, as it is by the Targum, Septuagint, and Vulgate Latin versions; for it is

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. A (good) name (cf. Ecclesiastes 7:1) is rather to be chosen ... (and) loving favour rather the silver.

CHAPTER 22 A good name, Heb. name put for good name, as , the word good being easily understood out of the next clause, in which it is expressed in the Hebrew text. A good reputation amongst wise and good men. Is rather to be chosen than great riches; partly, because it is a most special blessing from God, being appropriated to worthy persons, whereas God commonly throws away riches upon the basest of men; partly, because it gives a man that tranquillity and satisfaction of mind, and that content and comfort in his condition, which no riches can purchase; and partly, because as it is commonly an evidence of a man’ s virtue and piety, so it is accompanied with God’ s love and favour, whereas riches are oft given by God in wrath, and to the hurt of the owner. Loving favour; or, good grace or favour; a good report among men, especially among good men, and that hearty love and kindness which attends upon it.

Proverbs 22:1 A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favour rather than silver and gold.Ver. 1. A good name is rather to be chosen.] Heb., A name, as "a wife," for a good wife. Better no wife than an ill wife, so better no name than an ill name. This good name proceeding from a good conscience, this honour from virtue, this perfume of faith and obedience, this splendour and sparkle of the "white stone," which only shines upon heavenly hearts - is far more desirable than great riches. For, first, These oft take away the life of the owners thereof. The greater wealth, the greater spoil awaits a man. As a tree with thick and large boughs, every man desires to lop him. Whereas a good name saves a man oft from that danger, as it did Jonathan, whom the people rescued. Secondly, Riches breed and bring their cares and cumbers with them. Qui habet terras habet guerras, saith the proverb; many lawsuits and other vexations, &c.; when a good name, as a precious ointment poured out, gets loving favour, with which it is therefore fitly coupled in this text. Thirdly, Riches are enjoyed but till death at utmost; but a good name outlives the man, and is left behind him for a blessing. Other people went beyond God’ s Israel in wealth and riches, but none in fame and renown. Fourthly, Riches are oft gotten by fame. Let a man’ s name be up, and there will be great recourse to him; but let him once crack his credit, and riches cannot repair him. Infamy will not be bought off with money. Lastly, Riches are common to good men with bad men; but a good name, truly so called, is proper to God’ s peculiar, confined to the communion of saints. He was therefore a better husband than divine that first called riches bona, goods, And that heathen was nearer the truth than many profligate professors of it who said, Ego si bonam famam servasso sat dives ero: that is, If I may but keep a good name, I have wealth enough. And loving favour rather than silver and gold.] Which what is it else but white and red earth? and therefore no way fit to come in competition with good repute and report among the best, such as Christ had, and Joseph, and Daniel, and David, and Demetrius; and they had it as a special favour from God, who fashions men’ s opinions, and hides his people from the strife of tongues. Plautus.

XXII. (1) Loving favour.—Or, favour is better than silver and gold. “Favour” may signify the grace which wins love, as well as the favour gained thereby.

CHAPTER XXII A good reputation. The rich and the poor. The idle. Good habits formed in infancy. Injustice and its effects. The providence of God. The lewd woman. The necessity of timely correction. Exhortation to wisdom. Rob not the poor. Be not the companion of the froward. Avoid suretyship. Be honest. The industrious shall be favoured. NOTES ON CHAP. XXII Verse 1. A good name] שם shem, a name, put for reputation, credit, fame. Used nearly in the same way that we use it: "He has got a name;" "his name stands high;" for "He is a man of credit and reputation." טבא toba, καλον, [Arabic] hamood, and bonum, are added by the Chaldee, Septuagint, Arabic, and Vulgate, all signifying good or excellent. Is rather to be chosen than great riches] Because character will support a man in many circumstances; and there are many rich men that have no name: but the word of the man of character will go farther than all their riches.

1. A good name] Heb. a name, as in Ecclesiastes 7:1. Comp. Sir 41:12 : “Have regard to thy name; For it continueth with thee longer than a thousand great treasures of gold.” loving favour rather than] Or, favour is better than, A.V. and R.V. marg.

Omit “good.” The word is an insertion. To the Hebrew, “name” by itself conveyed the idea of good repute, just as “men without a name” (compare Job 30:8 margin) are those sunk in ignominy.

1. A good name — Hebrew, a name which includes the idea of good, honourable; as when we say a man has made himself a name, a reputation, which, when properly viewed, is more desirable than all riches.