Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8 is the eighth chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.Template:Sfn The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period.Template:Sfn This chapter is a part of the first collection of the book.Template:Sfn

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of Proverbs 8 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	Template:Script/Hebrew	Doth not wisdom call, And understanding put forth her voice?
2	Template:Script/Hebrew	In the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;
3	Template:Script/Hebrew	Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4	Template:Script/Hebrew	’Unto you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.
5	Template:Script/Hebrew	O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6	Template:Script/Hebrew	Hear, for I will speak excellent things, And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7	Template:Script/Hebrew	For my mouth shall utter truth, And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8	Template:Script/Hebrew	All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, There is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
9	Template:Script/Hebrew	They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.
10	Template:Script/Hebrew	Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11	Template:Script/Hebrew	For wisdom is better than rubies, And all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12	Template:Script/Hebrew	I wisdom dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge of devices.
13	Template:Script/Hebrew	The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.
14	Template:Script/Hebrew	Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15	Template:Script/Hebrew	By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
16	Template:Script/Hebrew	By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17	Template:Script/Hebrew	I love them that love me, And those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18	Template:Script/Hebrew	Riches and honour are with me; Yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
19	Template:Script/Hebrew	My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my produce than choice silver.
20	Template:Script/Hebrew	I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;
21	Template:Script/Hebrew	That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.
22	Template:Script/Hebrew	The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, The first of His works of old.
23	Template:Script/Hebrew	I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Or ever the earth was.
24	Template:Script/Hebrew	When there were no depths, I was brought forth; When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25	Template:Script/Hebrew	Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;
26	Template:Script/Hebrew	While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27	Template:Script/Hebrew	When He established the heavens, I was there; When He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28	Template:Script/Hebrew	When He made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep showed their might,
29	Template:Script/Hebrew	When He gave to the sea His decree, That the waters should not transgress His commandment, When He appointed the foundations of the earth;
30	Template:Script/Hebrew	Then I was by Him, as a nursling; And I was daily all delight, Playing always before Him,
31	Template:Script/Hebrew	Playing in His habitable earth, And my delights are with the sons of men.
32	Template:Script/Hebrew	Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; For happy are they that keep my ways.
33	Template:Script/Hebrew	Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.
34	Template:Script/Hebrew	Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, Watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35	Template:Script/Hebrew	For whoso findeth me findeth life, And obtaineth favour of the LORD
36	Template:Script/Hebrew	But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; All they that hate me love death.’

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).Template:Sfn

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $𝔊$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $𝔊$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $𝔊$^A; 5th century).Template:Sfn

Analysis

This chapter belongs to a section regarded as the first collection in the book of Proverbs (comprising Proverbs 1–9), known as "Didactic discourses".Template:Sfn The Jerusalem Bible describes chapters 1–9 as a prologue of the chapters 10–22:16, the so-called "[actual] proverbs of Solomon", as "the body of the book". Anglican commentator T. T. Perowne, in the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, calls the section comprising chapters 1 to 9 "The Appeal of Wisdom", a title also reserved in particular for Proverbs 8.

The chapter contains the so-called "Wisdom's Second Speech" (the "First Speech" is in Proverbs 1:20–33),Template:Sfn but whereas in Proverbs 1 Wisdom proclaims her value, and in Proverbs 3:19–26 Wisdom is the agent of creation, here Wisdom is personified, not as a deity like Egypt’s Ma'at or the Assyrian-Babylonian Ishtar, but simply presented as a 'self-conscious divine being distinct but subordinate to God', which in reality is the personification of the attribute of wisdom displayed by God. A connection between Wisdom and Jesus Christ is only in that both reveals the nature of God, but Proverbs 8 states wisdom as a creation of God, while Jesus’ claims as one with God includes wisdom (Matthew 12:42; even personified wisdom in a way that was similar to Proverbs in Matthew 11:19) and a unique knowledge of God (Matthew 11:25–27). Paul the Apostle sees the fulfillment of wisdom in Christ (Colossians 1:15–20; 2:3) and affirms that Christ became believers' wisdom in the crucifixion (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).

The chapter is very significant in Gnosticism, as they take “wisdom” to be referring to Sophia, the divine feminine incarnation of wisdom and truth.

The structure of chapter involves three cycles of Wisdom's invitation:

1. An introduction (verses 1–3) precedes the first invitation (verses 4, 5) and explanation that she is noble, just, and true (6–9).
2. The second invitation (verse 10) is accompanied by an explanation that she is valuable (11–21).
3. Finally, Wisdom tells how she preceded and delights in creation (verses 22–31) before concluding with the third invitation (32–36).

Aitken divides this chapter into the following sections:Template:Sfn

• Verses 1–11: personified Wisdom assumes the role of a wisdom teacher.
• Verses 12–21: Wisdom extols her providential role in the good and orderly government of the world (verses 12–16) and as the giver of wealth (verses 17–21)
• Verses 22–26: Wisdom's hymn of self-praise: before creation
• Verses 27–31: Wisdom's hymn of self-praise: at or during creation
• Verses 32–36: Conclusion.Template:Sfn

Template:AnchorWisdom's first invitation (8:1–9)

The introduction (verses 1–3) presents Wisdom as a teacher, without the note of reproach and threat in her first speech (Proverbs 1:20–33).Template:Sfn After giving the first invitation (verses 4–5), the emphasis is given on the character of Wisdom's words (verses 6–9) that, in contrast to the duplicitous and fraudulent words of the seductress, the words of Wisdom are in plain language, yet with integrity, which is intelligible to all who find her (verse 9).Template:Sfn

Verse 1

Does not wisdom cry out,

and understanding lift up her voice?

Wisdom speaks openly and publicly, not in secret or steathily like the evil seductress, just as Jesus Christ said that he has spoken openly to the world and said nothing in secret (John 18:20).

Some translations and paraphrases treat personify "Wisdom" and "Understanding" as characters speaking out, for example in the New American Bible, Revised Edition: Template:Poemquote and in The Voice translation: Template:Poemquote

Verse 2

On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand.}}

American theologian Albert Barnes notes the contrast between Wisdom's openness and transparency, and the "stealth and secrecy and darkness" which had shrouded the harlot's enticements in chapter 7.

Verse 9

They are all plain to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

• "Plain": literally in Hebrew "front of", that is "right in front of" someone.

Template:AnchorWisdom's second invitation (8:10–21)

The second invitation in verses 10–11 is very similar to the appeal in Proverbs:14–15,Template:Clarify whereas verses 12–14 recall the words of the prologue of the book (Proverbs 1:2–7).Template:Sfn In the explanation following the invitation, Wisdom describes her 'providential role in the good and orderly government of the world' (verses 12–16) and 'as the giver of wealth' (verses 17–21).Template:Sfn

Template:AnchorWisdom's hymn (8:22–31)

The third invitation is preceded by a hymn of self-praise in two parts by Wisdom (verses 22–31):Template:Sfn

1. Wisdom's origins before creation (verses 22–26), and
2. Wisdom's place at creation (verses 27–31).

Wisdom describes herself as:Template:Sfn

• created by God (verse 22); from Hebrew word qanah meaning "create", as in Genesis 14:19, 22, or "procreate”, as in Genesis 4:1; also established or possessed.
• setup or installed (verse 23); with royal overtones, cf. Psalm 2:6; may relate to a root meaning 'to be fashioned [in the womb]' (cf. Job 10:11; Psalm 139:13).
• born (verses 24–25); consistently representing herself as a child of God.Template:Sfn

Verse 31

rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth,

and my delights were with the sons of men.

• "In the habitable part of His earth": from Hebrew Template:Lang, Template:Strong-number Template:Strong-number; using two synonymous words to express a superlative idea—the “whole world” (cf. NIV, NCV).

Template:AnchorWisdom's third invitation (8:32–36)

Verses 32–36 form a conclusion in connection to the appeal back in verses 3–4.Template:Sfn

See also

• Related Bible parts: Proverbs 1, Proverbs 2, Proverbs 7, Proverbs 9

Sources

• Template:Cite book
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External links

• Jewish translations:
  • Mishlei - Proverbs - Chapter 8 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Book of Proverbs Chapter 8 King James Version
• Template:Librivox book Various versions