Bible Commentaries

wisdom. Hebrew. chokmah = wisdom personified. Compare Proverbs 8:12.

high places = places of vantage.

in the places of the paths = in the places where the paths meet.

doors = entrances.

men. Hebrew. "ishim. App-14.

man. Hebrew. "adam. App-14.

simple. See note on Proverbs 1:4.

wisdom. Hebrew. "armah. Not the same word as in Proverbs 8:1 = shrewdness. See note on Proverbs 1:2.

fools. Hebrew. k sil. See note on Proverbs 1:7.

excellent. Hebrew. nagid = a prince, or representative.

things. Hebrew. dabar = words (see App-73.) Hence = representative truths.

wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. rasha". App-44.

words = sayings. Hebrew. imrah.

froward = twisted, or crafty.

better. Note the seventeen occurrences of this rendering of Hebrew. tob in Proverbs: Proverbs 3:14; Proverbs 8:11, Proverbs 8:19; Proverbs 12:9; Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 15:17; Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 17:1; Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 19:22; Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 21:19; Proverbs 25:7, Proverbs 25:24; Proverbs 27:5, Proverbs 27:10; Proverbs 28:6.

I wisdom dwell. Wisdom personified. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6.

witty = sagacious. Anglo-Saxon witan, to know; like Greek. oida = to know intuitively: not by effort, which is ginosko = to get to know.

The fear, &c. See note on Proverbs 1:7.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

hate. This is far beyond Zophar's mistaken definition of it in Job 28:28. A man may "depart" from evil from policy, while he loves it in his heart. But to "hate" it comes only from Divine wisdom. By nature men love evil (Jeremiah 17:9. Matthew 7:17; Matthew 15:19. John 3:19. Romans 3:10-18; Romans 8:7, Romans 8:8. 1 Corinthians 2:14. Galatians 1:5, Galatians 1:17. Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:3, Ephesians 2:12; Ephesians 4:17-22. Colossians 1:21. Titus 3:3. 1 John 5:19).

evil. Hebrew. ra"a". App-44.

froward = perverse.

mouth. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6, for the whole man.

sound wisdom. See note on Proverbs 2:7.

understandings = discernment. See note on Proverbs 1:2.

By me kings reign. See Psalms 75:6, Psalms 75:7. Daniel 2:21, Daniel 2:47. Romans 13:1-7.

judges of the earth. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, read "righteous judges"; reading zedek, "righteousness", instead of "erez, "earth". Revised Version follows this.

that love me. Illustrations: Joseph (Genesis 37:2 :; Genesis 37:13; Genesis 37:16-17; Proverbs 39:3, Proverbs 39:9; Proverbs 41:38); Samuel (1 Samuel 2:26; 1 Samuel 7:3-17; compare Jeremiah 15:1); David (1 Samuel 17:37, 1 Samuel 17:45, 1 Samuel 17:46); Abijah (1 Kings 14:13); Obadiah (1 Kings 18:4; compare verses: Proverbs 8:3, Proverbs 8:12); Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:1-3, 2 Chronicles 34:27, 2 Chronicles 34:28); Daniel (Proverbs 1:6, Proverbs 1:8; Compare Proverbs 9:23; Proverbs 10:11-19).

treasures = treasuries. and Syriac render it "created" (ektise). Compare the use of the verb in this book (Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 4:5, Proverbs 4:7; Proverbs 16:16; Proverbs 17:16; Proverbs 18:15; Proverbs 19:8; Proverbs 20:14; Proverbs 22:23). Hebrew. kanah. Occurs eighty-six times in O.T.; rendered "possess" only four times. Compare "wisdom" (Luke 11:49).

beginning . . . Before. See Co Proverbs 1:1, Proverbs 1:15-17; Proverbs 2:9. Revelation 3:14. John 1:1; John 17:5, "begotten before the world . . . born in the world". Elohim taking creature form in order to create; as He, later, took human form (flesh) to redeem. Hence "creation" and "redemption" combined in Christ (Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:9). Man created in His likeness: that in which He appeared to the patriarchs and to Joshua (Proverbs 5:13) was not temporary, or assumed for the moment, but was permanent.

His way. As distinct from His "works" (Psalms 103:7).

Before. To this must be referred Ephesians 1:4, and Co Proverbs 1:1, Proverbs 1:17. Three times we have "before the foundation (or disruption, . Genesis 1:2. See note on Matthew 13:35) of the world" (John 17:24. Ephesians 1:4, and 1 Peter 1:20). Compare the expression "from (or, since) the foundation of the world", seven times (Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34. Luke 11:50. Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 9:26. Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8). See note on Matthew 13:35. The former has to do with the "Church", the latter with the "Kingdom"; the former with God's "purpose", the latter with His "counsels".

set up = founded. Hebrew. nasak, as in Psalms 2:6, "set".

from everlastings = from the outset of the ages. Compare Hebrews 11:3.

brought forth. Same root as Job 15:7; Job 39:1. Psalms 29:9; Psalms 51:5. Isaiah 45:10; Isaiah 51:2; Isaiah 66:8. Hebrew. hul. Not the same word as in Proverbs 8:30.

settled. Compare Psalms 104:8.

earth. Hebrew "eretz.

the highest part: or, the first atoms or particles.

world = the habitable world. Hebrew. tebel (not "eretz dearth). The Talmud (Taanith vol. 10A) distinguishes "eretz as meaning the land of Israel, from the world as meaning the outside lands. Compare Matthew 2:20.

compass = a circle, or vault.

clouds = skies, or finer clouds.

deep = abyss.

appointed = fixed by statute, or marked out.

I was by = I became beside Him. John 1:1. See note on "was", Genesis 1:2.

by = close by.

as one brought up with Him = as one constantly with Him, or under His constant care. Hebrew. "amon, from root "aman = to be constant or steady, and denoting: (1) The making constant or steady (Exodus 17:12). (2) The being constant, as a river (Isaiah 33:16. Jeremiah 15:18); as a house (2 Samuel 7:16. Isaiah 7:9); of words (Genesis 42:20); of a prophet (1 Samuel 3:20); an allowance (Nehemiah 11:23). (3) The stability or faithfulness (Deuteronomy 32:20. Isaiah 65:16. Jeremiah 51:15); hence "Amen", affirming and confirming assent. (4) Of the constant and steady care of a nurse, &c. (Esther 2:7, Esther 2:20; 2 Kings 10:1, 2 Kings 10:5. Isaiah 60:4; Isaiah 66:12. Lamentations 4:5). (5) Of the constant and steady resting of the mind as trusting, relying, or depending upon (Genesis 15:6; Genesis 45:26. Exodus 4:5. Deuteronomy 28:66. Judges 11:20). (6) Of the constant, steady hand required in a cunning workman (Song of Solomon 7:1 = hands of steadiness, meaning work not hastily done. The Revised Version rendering of Proverbs 8:30, "a master workman", is made on insufficient ground).

Rejoicing. Compare Proverbs 8:31.

the habitable part of His earth. Hebrew. tebel "arez. See note on "world", Proverbs 8:26. men. Hebrew. "adam. App-14. Compare Genesis 2:19; Genesis 3:8, Genesis 3:21. Made in

His image. Genesis 1:26, Genesis 1:27.

children = sons.

blessed = happy. See note on Proverbs 3:13.

fin deth life: i.e. resurrection life, and life eternal. Compare John 3:36. 1 John 5:12. See note on Leviticus 18:5.

favour = as shown in Romans 6:23.

sinneth. Hebrew. chata". App-44.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

love death = live and act so as to lose life. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause).