משלי, פרק ל׳, פסוק ו׳

Human intellect faces a profound test when it encounters Divine wisdom. There is a strong temptation to rely on human logic to expand, improve, or offer personal interpretations of God's instructions. However, acting on this intellectual pride carries the severe danger of distorting the truth. Because God's word is entirely pure and free of any flaw, the primary approach among commentators is that any human addition will ultimately prove incorrect. It is impossible to attach human reasoning to pure Divine truth [מצודת דוד]. Furthermore, the very act of adding to God's words inevitably leads a person to sin, just as taking away from them would [רש״י, אבן עזרא].

Commentators explore several layers of danger inherent in trying to add to Divine instruction. One major risk involves attempting to figure out the underlying reasons for the Commandments and then using that logic to alter them. A clear example of this is King Solomon, who relied on his own wisdom to justify taking many wives despite the prohibition. He reasoned that he could do so without his heart being led astray. By inserting his own logic, he crossed the line from someone who interprets God's word to someone who adds to it, and reality ultimately proved his reasoning completely false [אלשיך].

Another layer of danger lies in philosophical and intellectual investigation. A person is cautioned against attaching their own theories to God's words, as the Creator's instructions do not require a second opinion. It is far better to rely on tradition and received knowledge. Engaging in arguments and delving into concepts that the human mind is simply incapable of grasping can be destructive [אמרי דעת]. Focusing on external wisdom rather than the wisdom of the Commandments can lead a person to rebellion and cause them to violate God's prohibitions [אבן עזרא].

This intellectual overreach extends to those who try to decode the secrets of creation and the way God runs the world. When a person attempts to do this, God will directly rebuke them by pointing out their own limitations and exposing their words as false. A human being does not even understand the formation of their own body, how their limbs connect, or how their soul is bound to their physical form. If a person cannot comprehend their own existence, they certainly cannot grasp the hidden secrets of the universe. Any theories they add will be exposed as empty lies born from their own imagination [מלבי״ם].

Ultimately, a person who adds their own ideas out of a failure to understand how the world truly works will find that their additions amount to nothing. They will be left with falsehood and disappointment. In the end, this intellectual pride can cause them to completely abandon God's words and lose their spiritual portion entirely [רלב״ג, שטיינזלץ].