◄ Proverbs 29:1 ►
A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.
Study Bible
A man who remains stiff-necked
The phrase "stiff-necked" is a vivid metaphor used throughout the Bible to describe stubbornness and an unwillingness to change or heed correction. In Hebrew, the term often translates to "qasheh-oref," which literally means "hard of neck." This imagery is drawn from the behavior of oxen that resist the yoke, symbolizing a person who resists guidance or discipline. Historically, the Israelites were often described as stiff-necked in their relationship with God, highlighting a recurring theme of rebellion and the need for repentance. In a conservative Christian perspective, this phrase serves as a warning against pride and the refusal to submit to God's will, emphasizing the importance of humility and openness to divine correction.

after much reproof
"Reproof" refers to correction or criticism intended to lead someone back to the right path. The Hebrew word "tokhachah" implies a form of discipline that is meant to be constructive, not punitive. The phrase "after much reproof" suggests a repeated and patient attempt to guide someone towards righteousness. In the biblical context, God often sent prophets to reprove His people, urging them to return to His commandments. This highlights God's patience and mercy, as He provides numerous opportunities for repentance. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this underscores the importance of heeding God's warnings and the counsel of wise leaders, as persistent disobedience can lead to dire consequences.

will suddenly be shattered
The word "suddenly" indicates an unexpected and swift consequence. The Hebrew root "petha" conveys the idea of something happening abruptly, without warning. "Shattered" translates from the Hebrew "shabar," meaning to break or destroy. This imagery suggests a complete and irreversible destruction, akin to a clay pot that is smashed beyond repair. In the biblical narrative, sudden judgment often came upon those who ignored God's warnings, such as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. For conservative Christians, this serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine judgment. It calls believers to live in a state of readiness and obedience, aware that God's patience, though vast, is not limitless.

beyond recovery
The phrase "beyond recovery" implies a state of irreparable damage. In Hebrew, "marpe" often refers to healing or restoration, and the negation here suggests a condition where healing is no longer possible. This serves as a stark warning about the consequences of persistent rebellion against God. In the broader scriptural context, it echoes the fate of those who harden their hearts against God, such as Pharaoh in the Exodus narrative. From a conservative Christian perspective, this highlights the urgency of repentance and the peril of delaying it. It emphasizes the need for a responsive heart to God's correction, as there comes a point where the opportunity for repentance may be lost. This verse, therefore, calls believers to a life of continual self-examination and alignment with God's will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Stiff-Necked Man
This refers to an individual who is stubborn and resistant to correction or reproof. The term "stiff-necked" is often used in the Bible to describe a person who is obstinate and unwilling to change their ways.

2. Reproof
This is the act of correction or criticism intended to improve someone's behavior or beliefs. In the context of this verse, it implies repeated attempts to guide the individual towards the right path.

3. Sudden Shattering
This event describes the consequence of persistent stubbornness. It suggests a sudden and irreversible downfall or destruction as a result of ignoring repeated warnings.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Stubbornness
Stubbornness can lead to spiritual and personal ruin. It's crucial to remain open to correction and guidance from God and others.

The Importance of Heeding Reproof
Reproof is a tool for growth and improvement. Ignoring it can result in missed opportunities for development and eventual downfall.

Consequences of Ignoring Warnings
Persistent refusal to change can lead to sudden and irreversible consequences. It's important to recognize and act upon warnings before it's too late.

The Value of Humility
Humility allows us to accept correction and grow. Cultivating a humble heart can prevent the hardening that leads to being "stiff-necked."

God's Patience and Justice
God is patient, offering multiple opportunities for correction. However, His justice ensures that persistent rebellion will eventually lead to consequences.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some areas in your life where you might be resisting correction or reproof? How can you become more open to change?

2. How does the concept of being "stiff-necked" apply to both individuals and communities today? Can you think of any examples?

3. Reflect on a time when you ignored a warning or reproof. What were the consequences, and what did you learn from the experience?

4. How can you cultivate a spirit of humility to better accept reproof and grow in your faith?

5. In what ways does understanding God's patience and justice help you respond to His discipline in your life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Proverbs 1:24-31
This passage highlights the consequences of ignoring wisdom and reproof, emphasizing that those who refuse to listen will face calamity.

Exodus 32:9
The term "stiff-necked" is used to describe the Israelites' stubbornness, illustrating the broader biblical theme of resistance to God's guidance.

Hebrews 12:5-11
This passage discusses the importance of accepting discipline and reproof as a sign of God's love and a means to grow in righteousness.
Sermons
A Solemn WarningDavid Jamison, B.A.Proverbs 29:1
Hardening PerilousS. Bridge, M.A.Proverbs 29:1
Often ReprovedJohn Bate.Proverbs 29:1
The Certain Doom of the ImpenitentProverbs 29:1
The Doom of ObduracyW. Clarkson Proverbs 29:1
The Doom of the Incorrigible SinnerS. Davies, M.A.Proverbs 29:1
The Duty of Reprovers and Persons ReprovedWilliam Fenner.Proverbs 29:1
Private Morality and the Public WealE. Johnson Proverbs 29:1-7
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Beyond, Broken, Destroyed, Hardeneth, Hardening, Hardens, Hating, Healing, Heart, Making, Neck, Often, Rebuked, Rebukes, Remedy, Reproof, Reproved, Sharp, Stiffens, Stiff-necked, Suddenly, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 29:1

     5170   neck
     5295   destruction
     5890   insecurity
     6185   imagination, desires
     6245   stubbornness
     8822   self-justification

Library
An Obscured vision
(Preached at the opening of the Winona Lake Bible Conference.) TEXT: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."--Proverbs 29:18. It is not altogether an easy matter to secure a text for such an occasion as this; not because the texts are so few in number but rather because they are so many, for one has only to turn over the pages of the Bible in the most casual way to find them facing him at every reading. Feeling the need of advice for such a time as this, I asked a number of my friends who …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

Two Ancient Proverbs
A Sermon (No. 3080) Published on Thursday, February 20th, 1908. Delivered by C.H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Lord's Day evening, March 29th, 1874. "The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso puteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." --Proverbs 29:25. We have two ancient proverbs here; each of them is true as a separate proverb, and they are equally true when linked together. The independent proposition, that the fear of man bringeth a snare, is a truth which experience …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents.
We have gone "to the Law and to the Testimony" to find out what the nature and benefits of Baptism are. We have gathered out of the Word all the principal passages bearing on this subject. We have grouped them together, and studied them side by side. We have noticed that their sense is uniform, clear, and strong. Unless we are willing to throw aside all sound principles of interpretation, we can extract from the words of inspiration only one meaning, and that is that the baptized child is, by virtue …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

But Sometimes a Peril to Eternal Salvation Itself is Put Forth against Us...
40. But sometimes a peril to eternal salvation itself is put forth against us; [2466] which peril, they cry out, we by telling a lie, if otherwise it cannot be, must ward off. As, for instance, if a person who is to be baptized be in the power of impious and infidel men, and cannot be got at that he may be washed with the laver of regeneration, but by deceiving his keepers with a lie. From this most invidious cry, by which we are compelled, not for a man's wealth or honors in this world which are …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

Little Sarah Howley.
MISS SARAH HOWLEY, when she was between eight and nine years old, was carried by her friends to hear a sermon, where the minister preached upon Matt. xi, 30, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light;" in the applying of which scripture the child was mightily awakened, and made deeply sensible of the condition of her soul, and her need of Christ: she wept bitterly to think what a case she was in; went home, retired into a chamber, and upon her knees she wept and cried to the Lord as well as she could, …
John Wesley—Stories of Boys and Girls Who Loved the Saviour

For, Concerning False Witness, which is Set Down in the Ten Commands of The...
36. For, concerning false witness, which is set down in the ten commands of the Law, it can indeed in no wise be contended that love of truth may at heart be preserved, and false witness brought forth to him unto whom the witness is borne. For, when it is said to God only, then it is only in the heart that the truth is to be embraced: but when it is said to man, then must we with the mouth also of the body bring forth truth, because man is not an inspector of the heart. But then, touching the witness …
St. Augustine—On Lying

Palm Sunday
Text: Philippians 2, 5-11. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

It Remains Then that we Understand as Concerning those Women...
33. It remains then that we understand as concerning those women, whether in Egypt or in Jericho, that for their humanity and mercy they received a reward, in any wise temporal, which indeed itself, while they wist not of it, should by prophetical signification prefigure somewhat eternal. But whether it be ever right, even for the saving of a man's life, to tell a lie, as it is a question in resolving which even the most learned do weary themselves, it did vastly surpass the capacity of those poor …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

What are Evidences of Backsliding in Heart.
1. Manifest formality in religious exercises. A stereotyped, formal way of saying and doing things, that is clearly the result of habit, rather than the outgushing of the religious life. This formality will be emotionless and cold as an iceberg, and will evince a total want of earnestness in the performance of religious duty. In prayer and in religious exercises the backslider in heart will pray or praise, or confess, or give thanks with his lips, so that all can hear him, perhaps, but in such a …
Charles G. Finney—The Backslider in Heart

God's Glory the Chief End of Man's Being
Rom. xi. 36.--"Of him and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever." And 1 Cor. x. 31--"Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." All that men have to know, may be comprised under these two heads,--What their end is, and What is the right way to attain to that end? And all that we have to do, is by any means to seek to compass that end. These are the two cardinal points of a man's knowledge and exercise. Quo et qua eundum est,--Whither to go, and what way to go. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How the Impatient and the Patient are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 10.) Differently to be admonished are the impatient and the patient. For the impatient are to be told that, while they neglect to bridle their spirit, they are hurried through many steep places of iniquity which they seek not after, inasmuch as fury drives the mind whither desire draws it not, and, when perturbed, it does, not knowing, what it afterwards grieves for when it knows. The impatient are also to be told that, when carried headlong by the impulse of emotion, they act in some …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Humility is the Root of Charity, and Meekness the Fruit of Both. ...
Humility is the root of charity, and meekness the fruit of both. There is no solid and pure ground of love to others, except the rubbish of self-love be first cast out of the soul; and when that superfluity of naughtiness is cast out, then charity hath a solid and deep foundation: "The end of the command is charity out of a pure heart," 1 Tim. i. 5. It is only such a purified heart, cleansed from that poison and contagion of pride and self-estimation, that can send out such a sweet and wholesome …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, when Error Prevaileth, and the Spirit of Error Carrieth Many Away.
There is a time when the spirit of error is going abroad, and truth is questioned, and many are led away with delusions. For Satan can change himself into an angel of light, and make many great and fairlike pretensions to holiness, and under that pretext usher in untruths, and gain the consent of many unto them; so that in such a time of temptation many are stolen off their feet, and made to depart from the right ways of God, and to embrace error and delusions instead of truth. Now the question is, …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Characters and Names of Messiah
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. S uch was the triumphant exultation of the Old Testament Church! Their noblest hopes were founded upon the promise of MESSIAH; their most sublime songs were derived from the prospect of His Advent. By faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, they considered the gracious declarations …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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