Bible Commentary

Proverbs 30:13

Proverbs 30:13

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

[There is] a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. Above others, on whom they look with scorn and contempt; as those do who have more riches than others, and boast of them; they despise their poor neighbours, and disdain to look upon them: and such also who have more knowledge and wisdom than others, or at least think so; they are puffed up in their fleshly minds, and say of the illiterate or less knowing, as the proud Pharisees did, "this people, who knoweth not the law, are cursed": and likewise those who fancy themselves more holy and righteous than others; these, in a scornful manner, say, "stand by thyself, I am holier than thou"; and thank God they are not as other men are, as publicans and sinners; see Pr 19:4.

Hence Pliny says, that in the eyebrows there is a part of the mind; those especially show haughtiness; that pride has a receptacle elsewhere, but here it has its seat; it is bred in the heart, but here it comes and here it hangs: wherefore Juvenal calls pride and haughtiness, "grande supercilium"; and proud haughty persons are said to be supercilious.

Nat. Hist. 1. 11. c. 37. Satyr. 6. v.

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