The "house" is figurative of the whole life, the "chambers" of all regions, inward and outward, of it.

Through wisdom is a house blinded - That is, a family; household affairs. See the notes on Proverbs 9:1 (note), etc.

Through wisdom is a house builded,.... A family is built up, furnished and supplied with the necessaries and conveniences of life, and brought into flourishing and prosperous circumstances, by wise and prudent management, by diligence and industry, through the blessing of God upon them, without taking such methods as evil men do. The house of God, the church of the living God, is built by Wisdom, that is, by Christ; on a good foundation, a rock, upon himself, against which the gates of hell can never prevail; see Proverbs 9:1. Every good man's house, himself, his soul, and the eternal salvation of it, are built on the same; and he is a wise man that builds his house through wisdom; that builds on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the one and only foundation which God has laid, which is Jesus Christ;

and by understanding it is established; the prosperity of a man's family is continued and secured by his prudent conduct. The church of God is established by Christ, who is understanding as well as wisdom; see Proverbs 8:14; and every true believer is established in Christ, and in the faith of him; and that as he has more and more an understanding of him and of divine things.

The warning against fellowship with the godless is followed by the praise of wisdom, which is rooted in the fear of God.

3 By wisdom is the house builded,

   And by understanding is it established.

4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled

   With all manner of precious and pleasant goods.

What is meant by the "building of the house" is explained at Proverbs 14:1. It is wisdom, viz., that which originates from God, which is rooted in fellowship with Him, by which every household, be it great or small, prospers and attains to a successful and flourishing state; כּונן, as parallel word to בּנה (Proverbs 3:19; Proverbs 2:12), is related to it as statuere to extruere; the Hithpal (as at Numbers 21:17) means to keep oneself in a state of continuance, to gain perpetuity, to become established. That ימּלאוּ by Athnach has not passed over into the pausal ימּלאוּ, arises from this, that the Athnach, by the poetical system of accents, has only the force of the prose accent Sakef; the clause completes itself only by 4b; the pausal form on that account also is not found, and it is discontinued, because the Athnach does not produce any pausal effect (vid., at Psalm 45:6). The form of expression in Proverbs 24:4 is like Proverbs 1:13; Proverbs 3:10. But the חדרים, of storerooms (lxx as Isaiah 26:20, ταμιεῖα), and נעים, like Proverbs 22:18; Proverbs 23:8, is peculiar to this collection.

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

24:3 Through wisdom - There is no need that thou shouldest raise thy family by ruining others, which thou mayest more effectually do by wisdom.

3, 4. (Compare Pr 14:1; Isa 54:14).

house-including the family.

24:1,2 Envy not sinners. And let not a desire ever come into thy mind, Oh that I could shake off restraints! 3-6. Piety and prudence in outward affairs, both go together to complete a wise man. By knowledge the soul is filled with the graces and comforts of the spirit, those precious and pleasant riches. The spirit is strengthened for the spiritual work and the spiritual warfare, by true wisdom. 7-9. A weak man thinks wisdom is too high for him, therefore he will take no pains for it. It is bad to do evil, but worse to devise it. Even the first risings of sin in the heart are sin, and must be repented of. Those that strive to make others hateful, make themselves so. 10. Under troubles we are apt to despair of relief. But be of good courage, and God shall strengthen thy heart. 11,12. If a man know that his neighbour is in danger by any unjust proceeding, he is bound to do all in his power to deliver him. And what is it to suffer immortal souls to perish, when our persuasions and example may be the means of preventing it? 13,14. We are quickened to the study of wisdom by considering both the pleasure and the profit of it. All men relish things that are sweet to the palate; but many have no relish for the things that are sweet to the purified soul, and that make us wise unto salvation. 15,16. The sincere soul falls as a traveller may do, by stumbling at some stone in his path; but gets up, and goes on his way with more care and speed. This is rather to be understood of falls into affliction, than falls into actual sin.