Proverbs 8:22

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, whatever rendering of it we adopt, as indicating that Wisdom ever had a beginning, or was ever properly speaking created. Wisdom is inseparable from any worthy conception of Him who is "the only wise God" (1 Timothy 1:17), and therefore is like Him "from everlasting to everlasting" (Psalms 90:1).

The Heb. word seems properly to mean, to acquire, and so to possess, (comparavit, emit, acquisivit, acquisitum possedit," Buxtorf, ad verb.), without defining the method of acquisition. Thus Eve says on the birth of Cain, whom she named accordingly, "I have gottena man with the help ofJehovah" (Genesis 4:1). Almighty God is called "the possessorof heaven and earth" (Genesis 14:19; Genesis 14:22) which He created; land is said to be acquired, which is bought (Genesis 47:22-23); and a son to be bought(A.V. and R.V. text, or possessedor gotten, R.V. marg.) by his father (Deuteronomy 32:6; comp. Psalms 139:13, "Thou hast possessedmy reins," A.V. and R.V. text, "or formed," R.V. marg.). And so again it is used of an owner(Isaiah 1:3).

The rendering, Jehovah possessed me, would seem therefore most accurately to represent the original, while the idea contained in the word lends itself readily in the higher reference of the passage, to the Catholic doctrine of the Eternal Generation of the Son.

in the beginning There is no preposition in the Hebrew. We might therefore render, with R.V. marg., as the beginning(lit. the beginning, ἔκτισέ με ἀρχὴν ὁδῶν αὐτοῦ, LXX.). And so the same Heb. word is rendered in the next verse, or ever the earth was, lit. from the beginning of the earth. But the rendering of A.V. and R.V. text is preferable.

before Or, the first of, R.V. marg. The ambiguity in the Heb. is similar to that mentioned in the preceding note. But the considerations urged in the first note on this verse are decisive for the rendering, before. Comp. πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως, Coloss. Proverbs 1:15, which "declares the absolute pre-existence of the Son," Bp Lightfoot ad loc.