01.01.01.21. CHAPTER XXI. OF A PARAEMIA OR PROVERB

CHAPTER XXI. OF A PARAEMIA OR PROVERB THE generical consideration of a trope with respect to its continuation we have treated of in the last chapter; the special consideration of it, we will treat of in this. Which is either according to common use, and called paræmia, proverb, or an adagy; or with respect to its obscurity, and is called ænigma, or a riddle, or obscure allegory, The Hebrews call it XXXX, meshal, Ezekiel 11:22; Ezekiel 18:2, from the root XXXX which takes its signification from comparing or ruling, that so XXXX may be a proverb, or a comparative speech or likeness, or as it were kuria gnwmh, a ruling sentence, which has the principal place in a speech, and by its weight and gravity it makes it more illustrious. What other acceptations this word hath, shall be shown (with divine assistance) in the second volume of this book. To the sense we hold to, the word paroimia, 2 Peter 2:22, exactly agrees, which some think is derived para to oimov, a via, from, or, out of the way; that is, a departing from the vulgar or common way of speaking, or as others think from para oimon,[1.] præter vel juxta primum verbum, (for oimov signifies also a verb,) and from its sense is, as it were, another word and sense, as a proverb is called.

[1.] Beyond or besides the word. In proverbs words properly taken, or tropes, or their affections are used; which last only concern us in this place. And both are either entire sentences or proverbial phrases, which by common use, are brought into a sentence.

Proverbial sentences are to be read in Genesis 10:9, and Genesis 22:14; Numbers 21:27; 1 Samuel 10:12; 1 Samuel 24:14; 2 Samuel 5:8, and 2 Samuel 20:18; Jeremiah 31:29; Ezekiel 16:44; Ezekiel 18:2; Luke 4:23; John 4:37; 2 Peter 2:22, in which places the Holy Spirit affirms that those sentences are become proverbs. There are other phrases kuriai gnwmai, to which the title of proverbs is not annexed, yet because of their emphaticalness, they are so esteemed: as Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Kings 8:46, and 1 Kings 20:11; 2 Chronicles 25:9; Job 6:5; Job 14:19; Job 27:19; Job 28:18; Psalms 42:7, and Psalms 62:9. Such is that famous sentence, Psalms 111:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." See Proverbs 1:7, and Proverbs 9:10, with Job 28:28. There are many in the book called XXXX, the proverbs of Solomon, as Proverbs 1:17, Proverbs 1:32; Proverbs 3:12; Proverbs 6:6, Proverbs 6:27; Proverbs 10:5, Proverbs 10:13, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 10:25; Proverbs 11:15, Proverbs 11:22, Proverbs 11:27; Proverbs 12:11, Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 15:2, Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 17:1, Proverbs 17:10, Proverbs 17:19, Proverbs 17:28; Proverbs 19:2, Proverbs 19:14; Proverbs 20:4, Proverbs 20:11, Proverbs 20:14, Proverbs 20:21, Proverbs 20:25; Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 22:14; Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 25:16, Proverbs 25:27; Proverbs 26:4, Proverbs 26:10-11, Proverbs 26:14, Proverbs 26:17, Proverbs 26:28; Proverbs 27:6-8, Proverbs 27:10, Proverbs 27:14, Proverbs 27:22; Proverbs 28:21; Proverbs 30:15, (&c.) So in the book of Ecclesiastes, (Ecclesiastes 1:15, Ecclesiastes 1:18; Ecclesiastes 4:5, Ecclesiastes 4:12; Ecclesiastes 5:2, Ecclesiastes 5:6, Ecclesiastes 5:8-10; Ecclesiastes 6:9; Ecclesiastes 7:17; Ecclesiastes 9:4, Ecclesiastes 9:18; Ecclesiastes 10:1-2, Ecclesiastes 10:8-9, Ecclesiastes 10:15, Ecclesiastes 10:19-20; Ecclesiastes 11:3-4, Ecclesiastes 11:6-7; Ecclesiastes 12:12.) In the prophets, Jeremiah 13:23; Jeremiah 23:28; Ezekiel 7:5; Micah 7:5-6; Habakkuk 2:6; Malachi 2:10. In the New Testament, Matthew 5:13-15; Matthew 6:3, Matthew 6:21, Matthew 6:24, Matthew 6:34; Matthew 7:2, Matthew 7:5, Matthew 7:16; Matthew 9:12, Matthew 9:16; Matthew 10:10, Matthew 10:22, Matthew 10:24, Matthew 10:26; Matthew 12:34; Matthew 13:12, Matthew 13:57; Matthew 15:14; Matthew 23:23; Matthew 24:28; Mark 9:50; Luke 9:62; Luke 12:48; Luke 23:31; Acts 9:5; Acts 20:35; 1 Corinthians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Titus 1:15.

Here we must note that Christ and his apostles used several proverbs, or vulgar ways of speaking, common to the Jews, which were partly written in their old books, yea, even in the Talmud, as Matthew 7:2; Mark 4:24; Luke 6:38, "With the same measure ye mete, the same shall be measured to you again," which is in the Talmud tract. Sanhedrim in these words, XX XXXX XX XXX XXXXX XXXXX, "By the same measure which ye shall measure, others will measure to you again." It is very plain in the Targum hierosolymitanum, Genesis 38:1-30, in these words; "By what measure a man measures, by the same will others measure to him; as to good measure or bad measure." So the sentence, Matthew 19:24, "It is easier for a camel," &c., is in the Talmud as Aug. Caninius says; "only it is said there, that an elephant cannot go through the eye of a needle, for which elephant, (a beast known to few) Christ said a camel, a beast well known in Syria." And the phrase, Luke 6:42, Buxtorfius in Glossatore Talmudico says, is also in the Talmud. And 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "If any will not work, neither shall he eat." Drusius, 2 Tract. in Gen. magn. Bereschith Rabba Tract. Talmud; says the same phrase is in the Talmud. And doubtless the apostle thence took it. See Adag. sacra, written by Zelmer from the whole Bible in 5. Centur. Of proverbial phrases. See examples, Exodus 11:7, that "a dog should not move his tongue," was a proverbial speech, denoting profound silence and peace in that place. Some refer this to a meiosis. See 1 Samuel 25:22, 1 Samuel 24:24; 1 Kings 14:10, and 1 Kings 16:11; 2 Kings 9:8, which last was also a proverbial phrase, denoting extreme destruction, even to the vilest animal.

See other proverbial speeches, 2 Kings 14:26; Deuteronomy 32:36; Esther 1:22; Job 16:10; Psalms 3:7; Lamentations 3:39; Micah 4:13.

See Isaiah 3:15; 2 Corinthians 11:10; Matthew 5:39; Luke 6:29, with 1 Kings 22:24; John 18:22; Acts 23:2; 1 Corinthians 4:11; Proverbs 26:17, and Proverbs 28:21; Ezekiel 13:19; Matthew 3:11; John 1:27; Matthew 23:24. To kick against the pricks, was a proverbial speech, Acts 5:39; Acts 9:5; Acts 23:9; Acts 26:14. The phrase, 1 Corinthians 13:13, "But he shall be saved yet so as by fire," is a proverbial speech, as if he had escaped from a conflagration. That is, as Illyricus says,[2] "Such a teacher is together with his stubble in the midst of a terrible incendium (or fire,) these being condemned by the judgment of God shall perish, but he by the singular favour of God, shall be preserved, though with much hazard and difficulty." See Ecclesiastes 3:2; Amos 4:11, (&c.) [2] Clav. Sript. Col. 870.