Sixteenth Address. Ch. Proverbs 8:1-36. The Appeal of Wisdom The personification of Wisdom in this chapter is highly suggestive. Already in the opening verses of the Book (Proverbs 1:20-33) Wisdom has been personified, has "uttered her voice," as here she utters it, "in the street" and "in the chie... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 8:1. _The call of Wisdom_. Comp. Proverbs 1:20-21.... [ Continue Reading ]
in _the places of the paths_ Lit. IN THE HOUSE OR HOME OF THE PATHS, i.e. where many roads or streets run up into one common meeting-place, and so give vantage-ground for her call. The R.V. arranges the verse in the order of the Heb.: In the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, sh... [ Continue Reading ]
_she crieth_ The R.V. again preserves the order of the Heb., and puts the words SHE CRIETH ALOUD at the end of the verse. _the gates_ See Proverbs 1:21, note. Proverbs 8:4. _The persons whom she addresses_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_wisdom_ R.V. SUBTILTY. See Proverbs 1:4, note. Proverbs 8:6. _The plainness of her speech_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_excellent things_ The word is always used elsewhere of persons, _princes_, or _leaders_. Here, poetically, my words shall march forth, instinct with the nobility of truth and rectitude.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in righteousness_ or, "_righteousness_," R.V. marg. _froward_ Rather, CROOKED, R.V.; σκολιόν, LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Matthew 13:11; Matthew 13:16. Proverbs 8:10. _The treasures she offers_. In place of gold and silver and precious stones and whatever else men covet, wisdom offers "durable riches," intellectual, moral, spiritual treasures, and offers them in and with herself in responsive love to all who lo... [ Continue Reading ]
_rubies_ See Proverbs 3:15, note. _to it_ Better, UNTO HER, R.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 8:12. _What she is and gives_. 12. _dwell with prudence_ marg. _subtilty_. Rather, have made SUBTILTY (marg. _prudence_) MY DWELLING, R.V.; κατεσκήνωσα βουλὴν LXX.; habito in consilio, Vulg. Abstract wisdom makes her abode, as it were the spirit in the body, in practical prudence in affair... [ Continue Reading ]
_I hate_ This quiet identification of herself by Wisdom with _the fear of the Lord_, in the first clause of the verse, is significant. See Introd., p. 31.... [ Continue Reading ]
_sound wisdom_ So the same word is rendered both by A.V. and R.V. in Proverbs 2:7. Here, however, R.V. renders _sound knowledge_, and in marg. offers the alternative, _effectual working_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_kings reign_ If wisdom be needed for the conduct of common life, much more is it needed, and no less does it avail for the discharge of the highest official duties. Comp. 1 Kings 3:5-12.... [ Continue Reading ]
_princes_ "or _rulers_," R.V. marg. The Heb. word is not the same as in Proverbs 8:15. The variety of words is used in order to bring all official positions within the domain of Wisdom. _of the earth_ "Many ancient authorities read _of righteousness_," R.V. marg. This reading, found also in Syr. Ta... [ Continue Reading ]
_early_ Rather DILIGENTLY, R.V. text, though R.V. marg. retains, early. See Proverbs 1:28, _note_. Wisdom is as accessible as she is desirable.... [ Continue Reading ]
_durable_ Or, _ancient_, R.V. marg. The word, of which the root meaning is _to grow old_, in the sense of continuance, may look backward to what has already grown old and is _ancient_, or forward to what is _abiding_, and therefore will grow old. The rendering _durable_has the advantage of combining... [ Continue Reading ]
_gold … silver_ Comp. Proverbs 3:14. _revenue_ Or, _increase_, R.V. marg., preserving the figure of _fruit_in the parallel clause. γενήματα, LXX.; genimina, Vulg. Proverbs 8:22. _Her august claims_. Wisdom appeals to us, not only upon the ground of what she bestows (Proverbs 8:10), but upon the g... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will fill their treasures_ or, _that I may fill their treasuries_. R.V. The LXX. add to this verse: "If I announce to you the things that are daily coming to pass, I will be mindful to take count of the things which are from everlasting.... [ Continue Reading ]
_possessed_ So also R.V. text: marg., "or, _formed_." ἔκτισεν, LXX.; ἐκτήσατο, Aquila; possedit, Vulg. This word has been a battleground of controversy since the days of the Arian heresy. But it is well to remember that, all theological questions apart, it is impossible to understand the word, whate... [ Continue Reading ]
_set up_ Gesenius renders _anointed_here and in Psalms 2:6, where the same word occurs. But "the verb means -to pour out," and then -to pour metals in a state of fusion into a mould": hence it passes over into the meaning of _setting fast, establishing_, &c. So the Niph, Proverbs 8:23, and hence נָס... [ Continue Reading ]
_highest part_ Rather, BEGINNING; R.V. text ("or _sum_," marg.); i.e. the primary elements out of which other things were subsequently formed. Comp. "all his work which God _created_and _made_," Genesis 2:3. The idea that man is intended as the "chief part of the dust of the earth," out of which he... [ Continue Reading ]
_compass_ Rather, CIRCLE, R.V. text, A.V. marg. The reference is to the heavens, just mentioned, which seem to stand like a vault or dome upon the sea, marked out by the circle of the horizon on its surface. Comp. Job 22:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_established the clouds_) Rather, MADE FIRM THE SKIES, R.V. he _strengthened_ Rather, _when the fountains of the deep_ BECAME STRONG, R.V. The same Heb. word is used of the sea, Nehemiah 9:11; Isaiah 43:16, "the mighty waters.... [ Continue Reading ]
_his decree_ So R.V. marg.; ITS BOUND, R.V. text. It may be doubted, however, whether the translators of A.V. did not mean, _its_(for which they often use _his_) decree, i.e. the law laid upon it by God for its observance. Terminum suum, Vulg. Comp. Job 38:8-11; Psalms 104:9. _appointed_ or, _marke... [ Continue Reading ]
_one brought up_with him] The Heb. root is used of bringing up a child, acting as nurse or foster-parent to it, Ruth 4:16; Esther 2:7. Hence the translation of A. V. But it may also be applied to one who rears a building, or carries out a work, an architect, or artificer; A MASTER WORKMAN, R.V. So i... [ Continue Reading ]
_the habitable part of his earth_ Rather, HIS HABITABLE EARTH, R.V., lit. THE HABITABLE WORLD OF HIS EARTH. See Job 37:12, where the same Heb. expression is rendered, _the habitable world_, R.V. The thought is that Wisdom, who found glad exercise in every part and stage of creation as it advanced,... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 8:32. The consequent Appeal of Wisdom 32. _Now, therefore_ Because I give, and am, all this; and because in and from their first creation my delight was and is with the sons of men. _O ye children_ Rather, MY SONS, R.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
_obtain_ "Heb. _draw forth_," R.V. marg. See Proverbs 3:13, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_sinneth_against] Or, "_misseth_," R.V. marg. The Heb. word here used means primarily to miss the mark (as, for example, a slinger, Judges 20:16). Then it is used commonly for missing the mark, or erring from the way, morally, i.e. sinning. Comp. the use of ἁιμαρτάνω in Greek.... [ Continue Reading ]