Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 8

Verse 1

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

Verse 2

high places = places of vantage.

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

Verse 3

doors = entrances.

Verse 4

men. Hebrew. 'ishim. App-14 .

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 5

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 .

Verse 6

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

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

Verse 7

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

Verse 8

words = sayings. Hebrew. imrah.

froward = twisted, or crafty.

Verse 11

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 .

Verse 12

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.

Verse 13

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 . 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Timothy 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.

Verse 14

sound wisdom. See note on Proverbs 2:7 .

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

Verse 15

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

Verse 16

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.

Verse 17

that love me. Illustrations: Joseph (Genesis 37:2 :; Genesis 37:13 ; Genesis 37:16-17 ; Pro 39:3 , Pro 39:9 ; Pro 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 Pro 9:23 ; Proverbs 10:11-19 ).

Verse 21

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".

Verse 23

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

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

Verse 24

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 .

Verse 25

settled. Compare Psalms 104:8 .

Verse 26

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 .

Verse 27

compass = a circle, or vault.

Verse 28

clouds = skies, or finer clouds.

deep = abyss.

Verse 29

appointed = fixed by statute, or marked out.

Verse 30

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; 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 .

Verse 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 .

Verse 32

children = sons.

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

Verse 35

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 .

Verse 36

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).