John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. Scornful men bring a city into a snare , etc.] Such as despise dominion, speak evil of dignities; proud and haughty men, that speak Loftily, and with a contempt of their superiors; or who make a mock at religion, and scoff at all that is good and serious; these bring the inhabitants of a city into a snare, to rebel against their governors, and so into mischief and ruin: or, they “burn a city”, as the Septuagint and Syriac versions f809 ; they inflame it, or blow it up into a flame; raise a combustion in it, and fill it with strifes and contentions; and bring down the wrath of God upon it, like fire: or, they “blow upon a city” f810 ; raise storms and tempests in it; turn all things upside down, and throw it into the utmost confusion, or blow it up; but wise [men] turn away wrath ; the wrath of men, by their wise counsels and advice, and appease tumults and seditions, and restore things to a quiet and settled state; or the wrath of God, by interposing with their prayers between him and a sinful people, as Moses did, ( <19A623> Psalm 106:23).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8 - The scornful mock at things sacred and serious. Men who promot religion, which is true wisdom, turn away the wrath of God.
Original Hebrew אנשׁי376 לצון3944 יפיחו6315 קריה7151 וחכמים2450 ישׁיבו7725 אף׃639
