Proverbs 28 · a question people ask

The law comes four times in 28:4-9. Is it the law of Moses?

In the text

The chapter doesn't say whose law it means. Law in 28:4, 28:7 and 28:9 is torah (tap law), and the book has used the word for more than one teaching: a mother's, "don’t forsake your mother’s teaching" (Proverbs 1:8); the teaching of the voice that says "My son" (Proverbs 3:1); a father's, "Don’t forsake my law" (Proverbs 4:2), with the verb and noun of 28:4's forsake the law; and the teaching of the wise: "The teaching of the wise is a spring of life" (Proverbs 13:14). In chapter 28 it has no owner: "Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them" (28:4), "Whoever keeps the law is a wise son" (28:7), and "He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination" (28:9). The next chapter has it once more: "one who keeps the law is blessed" (Proverbs 29:18). Among these sayings, 28:5 speaks of the LORD: "those who seek the LORD understand it fully" (28:5). The chapter says no more about whose law it is, and these notes don't decide. On 28:9, the notes on Proverbs 15 set it beside 15:8 and 15:29. These notes add only that the verse speaks of one who turns his ear away from hearing, and they apply it to no one's prayers today.

The verses

“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them. Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.”
Proverbs 28:4-5 · World English Bible
“Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.”
Proverbs 28:7 · World English Bible
“He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”
Proverbs 28:9 · World English Bible
“My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;”
Proverbs 1:8 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28: Whoever confesses finds mercy

In Hebrew the sins of 28:13 are pesha', and the man who robs his parents says, "It’s not wrong" (28:24): there is no pesha', he says. And the bold of the righteous, "as bold as a lion" (28:1), is batach, the verb of "one who trusts in the LORD" (28:25).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions