Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

For a servant, when he reigneth,.... Being unfit for it through his education, not having been trained up in and learned the arts of government and maxims of it; and through the disposition of his mind, which is mean, abject, and servile; and as he has been used himself when a servant, so he will use others^F3"Nec bellua tetrior ulla est, quam servi rabies in libera colla furentis", Claudian. in Eutrop. l. 1. v. 183, 184. and through his circumstances, being poor, he will take oppressive methods to become rich; and being raised from a low estate, he is the more imperious, proud, and haughty^F4"Asperius nihil est humili, cum surgit in altum", Claudian. ib. v. 181. ; all which and more make his reign intolerable; see Proverbs 19:10. This may be applied to antichrist, the "servus servorum", who in a haughty, tyrannical, and insolent manner, exalts himself above all that is called God: and reigns over the kings of the earth, at least has done so, and that in such a manner as was unbearable; deposing kings at pleasure, disposing of their kingdoms, and trampling upon their necks, and making their subjects his vassals; see 2 Thessalonians 2:4;

and a fool, when he is filled with meat; as Nabal at his feast, when he behaved so intolerably in his cups towards David and his messengers, that he determined on his destruction, had not Abigail interposed, 1 Samuel 25:10; and there are many such fools, who having their bellies full of food, and their heads full of liquor, are very overbearing in company, and give their tongues such a loose as is very disturbing: or this may intend such fools, or wicked men, who are full of wealth and riches, and being purse proud, are exceeding haughty and insolent; set their mouths against the heaven, and blaspheme God that is in it; and their tongues walk through the earth, and spare none, but lash all in an insufferable manner. These disquiet families, neighbourhoods, communities, and commonwealths; see Psalm 73:7.

Geneva Study Bible

(l) These commonly abuse the state to which they are called.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

A servant — For such an one is commonly ignorant, and therefore commits many errors; he is poor, and therefore insatiable, he is proud and imperious, and usually injurious and cruel.

A fool — A conceited fool.

When — When he abounds in wealth.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Proverbs 30:22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

Ver. 22. For a servant when he reigneth.] As Jeroboam, Saul, Zimri, Herod, Heliogabalus, Phocas. {See Trapp on "Proverbs 19:10"} Vespasian only, of all the emperors, is said to have been better for his advancement.

For a fool when he is filled with meat.] When his belly is filled with God’s "hid treasure"; [Psalms 17:14] when he prospers and hath what he will. Prosperity is hard meat to fools; they cannot digest it. (a) They grow giddy, as weak heads do after a cup of generous wine, and lay about them like madmen; the folly of these rich fools is foolishness with a witness. [Proverbs 14:24] {See Trapp on "Proverbs 14:24"}

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

When he reigneth; when he is advanced to great power and dignity; for such a one is ignorant and unfit for his place, and therefore commits many errors; he is poor, and therefore an insatiable oppressor, according to Proverbs 28:3; he is proud and imperious, and being maligned and hated by others, he is provoked to hate them, and to be injurious and cruel to them.

A fool, a conceited and wilful fool, or all obstinately wicked man,

when he is filled with meat; either,

1. When he is glutted with meat or drink, which dulls men’s reason, and heats their blood, and stirs them up to many insolencies. Or rather,

2. When he abounds in wealth, which in that case is like a sword in a madman’s hand, being an instrument and occasion of innumerable wickednesses and mischiefs, as appears from common experience.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

fool. Hebrew. nabal. See note on Proverbs 1:7.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) For a servant when he reigneth.—The mischief done by Oriental favourites at court, who often began life as slaves, was proverbial.

A fool (nâbhâl).—See above, on Proverbs 17:7. It is only when he has to work hard for his living that he will behave himself decently; if he gets a little money, it will soon be wasted in idleness and self-indulgence.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

a servant

19:10; 28:3; Ecclesiastes 10:7; Isaiah 3:4,5

a fool

1 Samuel 25:3,10,11,25,36-38; 30:16