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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Proverbs 8 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/proverbs/8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/proverbs/8-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Ellicott</a> > <a href="../proverbs/">Proverbs</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../proverbs/7.htm" title="Proverbs 7">◄</a> Proverbs 8 <a href="../proverbs/9.htm" title="Proverbs 9">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</div><div class="chap"> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-1.htm">Proverbs 8:1</a></div><div class="verse">Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?</div><span class= "bld">VIII.</span><p>(<span class= "ital">n</span>)<span class= "ital">. Fourteenth Discourse</span>:—<span class= "ital">The Praise of Wisdom </span>(Proverbs 8)<p>(1) <span class= "bld">Doth not wisdom cry?—</span>See above on <a href="/proverbs/1-20.htm" title="Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets:">Proverbs 1:20</a>. In contrast with the secret allurements of Vice under the cover of night, is here represented the open invitation of Wisdom. (Comp. <a href="/john/18-20.htm" title="Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.">John 18:20</a> : “I spake openly to the world . . . and in secret have I said nothing.”)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-2.htm">Proverbs 8:2</a></div><div class="verse">She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.</div>(2) <span class= "bld">She standeth in the top of high places.—</span><span class= "ital">i.e., </span>in the higher parts of the city, where her voice will best be heard.<p><span class= "bld">By</span> <span class= "bld">the way </span>. . .—She goes everywhere where she may find the greatest concourse of people, “God not being willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (<a href="/2_peter/3-9.htm" title="The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.">2Peter 3:9</a>). So the apostles made large centres of population such as Antioch, Ephesus, or Corinth, the headquarters of their missionary enterprise.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-4.htm">Proverbs 8:4</a></div><div class="verse">Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice <i>is</i> to the sons of man.</div>(4) <span class= "bld">O men<span class= "ital">—</span></span><span class= "ital">i.e., </span>“great ones;” “sons of man” are those of inferior rank; comp. the Hebrew of <a href="/isaiah/2-9.htm" title="And the mean man bows down, and the great man humbles himself: therefore forgive them not.">Isaiah 2:9</a>, where the same words are translated “great man,” and “mean man.” Comp. the generality of the invitation of <a href="/psalms/49-2.htm" title="Both low and high, rich and poor, together.">Psalm 49:2</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-5.htm">Proverbs 8:5</a></div><div class="verse">O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.</div>(5) <span class= "bld">O ye simple.</span>—See above on <a href="/proverbs/1-4.htm" title="To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.">Proverbs 1:4</a> for an explanation of “simple,” as also of “wisdom” (‘o<span class= "ital">rmah</span>) there translated “subtilty.”<p><span class= "bld">Ye fools.</span>—(<span class= "ital">khesîlîm</span>)<span class= "ital">, </span>see above on <a href="/proverbs/1-22.htm" title="How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?">Proverbs 1:22</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-6.htm">Proverbs 8:6</a></div><div class="verse">Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips <i>shall be</i> right things.</div>(6) <span class= "ital"><span class= "bld">The</span> </span><span class= "bld">opening of my lips shall be right things.</span>—That is, <span class= "ital">I will open my mouth to speak them.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-8.htm">Proverbs 8:8</a></div><div class="verse">All the words of my mouth <i>are</i> in righteousness; <i>there is</i> nothing froward or perverse in them.</div>(8) <span class= "bld">Froward.—</span>That is, <span class= "ital">twisted, </span>or <span class= "ital">crooked.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-9.htm">Proverbs 8:9</a></div><div class="verse">They <i>are</i> all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.</div>(9) <span class= "bld">They are all plain </span>. . .—Because “the secret of the Lord is (only) with them that fear Him “(<a href="/psalms/25-14.htm" title="The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.">Psalm 25:14</a>), and God reveals such things unto them by His Spirit (<a href="/1_corinthians/2-10.htm" title="But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.">1Corinthians 2:10</a>), while the “natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him” (<span class= "ital">ibid., </span><a href="/proverbs/8-14.htm" title="Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.">Proverbs 8:14</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-11.htm">Proverbs 8:11</a></div><div class="verse">For wisdom <i>is</i> better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.</div>(11) <span class= "bld">Rubies.—</span>See above on <a href="/proverbs/3-15.htm" title="She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her.">Proverbs 3:15</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-12.htm">Proverbs 8:12</a></div><div class="verse">I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.</div>(12) <span class= "bld">Dwell with prudence.—</span>(<span class= "ital">‘ormah</span>)<span class= "ital">, </span>literally, <span class= "ital">inhabit </span>it, have settled down and taken up my abode with it, am at home there.<p><span class= "bld">Witty inventions.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">well thought out plans </span>(<span class= "ital">mezimmôth</span>) translated “discretion” (<a href="/proverbs/1-4.htm" title="To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.">Proverbs 1:4</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-13.htm">Proverbs 8:13</a></div><div class="verse">The fear of the LORD <i>is</i> to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.</div>(13) <span class= "bld">The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.—</span>Because there can never be any truce between the kingdoms of light and darkness (<a href="/matthew/6-24.htm" title="No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.">Matthew 6:24</a>), so if we are the friend of one, we must be the enemy of the other.<p><span class= "bld">Pride and arrogancy . . . do I hate.—</span>See above on <a href="/proverbs/6-17.htm" title="A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,">Proverbs 6:17</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-14.htm">Proverbs 8:14</a></div><div class="verse">Counsel <i>is</i> mine, and sound wisdom: I <i>am</i> understanding; I have strength.</div>(14) <span class= "bld">Sound wisdom.—</span>See above on <a href="/proverbs/2-7.htm" title="He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.">Proverbs 2:7</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Strength.</span>—Comp. <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-19.htm" title="Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.">Ecclesiastes 7:19</a>. For these various gifts of wisdom, comp. <a href="/isaiah/11-2.htm" title="And the spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;">Isaiah 11:2</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-15.htm">Proverbs 8:15</a></div><div class="verse">By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.</div>(15) <span class= "bld">Princes.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">men of weight, </span>or, <span class= "ital">importance.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-16.htm">Proverbs 8:16</a></div><div class="verse">By me princes rule, and nobles, <i>even</i> all the judges of the earth.</div>(16) <span class= "bld">All the judges of the earth</span>.—By the aid of heavenly wisdom only can they give right and just judgments, and so fulfil the high office delegated to them by God Himself, from the possession of which they are themselves termed “gods” (<a href="/exodus/22-28.htm" title="You shall not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of your people.">Exodus 22:28</a>; <a href="/psalms/82-1.htm" title="God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods.">Psalm 82:1</a>). For the same reason kings, as ruling by His authority, have the same title accorded to them (<a href="/psalms/45-6.htm" title="Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of your kingdom is a right scepter.">Psalm 45:6</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-17.htm">Proverbs 8:17</a></div><div class="verse">I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.</div>(17) <span class= "bld">I love them that love me.—</span>Comp. <a href="/john/14-21.htm" title="He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.">John 14:21</a> : he that loveth me. . . . I will love him.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-18.htm">Proverbs 8:18</a></div><div class="verse">Riches and honour <i>are</i> with me; <i>yea</i>, durable riches and righteousness.</div>(18) <span class= "bld">Riches and honour are with me.</span>—“If this passage is taken in a material sense, <a href="/psalms/112-3.htm" title="Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endures for ever.">Psalm 112:3</a> and the promises in the Pentateuch of wealth as the reward of obedience might be compared with it. But doubtless the “true riches” (<a href="/luke/16-11.htm" title="If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?">Luke 16:11</a>) are here alluded to, the consciousness of possessing God’s honour and favour, called in <a href="/ephesians/3-8.htm" title="To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;">Ephesians 3:8</a> the “unsearchable riches of Christ.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-19.htm">Proverbs 8:19</a></div><div class="verse">My fruit <i>is</i> better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.</div>(19) <span class= "bld">My fruit. . . . my revenue.</span>—<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>the gain and profit which come from possessing me.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-20.htm">Proverbs 8:20</a></div><div class="verse">I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:</div>(20) <span class= "bld">I lead in the way of righteousness.—</span>Comp. <a href="/psalms/37-23.htm" title="The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.">Psalm 37:23</a>; also a prayer for such guidance, <a href="/psalms/119-33.htm" title="Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I shall keep it to the end.">Psalm 119:33</a>; <a href="/psalms/143-8.htm" title="Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning; for in you do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul to you.">Psalm 143:8</a>; and a promise of it <a href="/isaiah/30-21.htm" title="And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk you in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.">Isaiah 30:21</a><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-21.htm">Proverbs 8:21</a></div><div class="verse">That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.</div>(21) <span class= "bld">That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance.</span>—The work which each one by my help shall do will be stored up for him in heaven (<a href="/matthew/6-20.htm" title="But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:">Matthew 6:20</a>), it will be as “gold tried in the fire” (<a href="/revelation/3-18.htm" title="I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.">Revelation 3:18</a>), which will abide the trial of “the day” (<a href="/1_corinthians/3-13.htm" title="Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.">1Corinthians 3:13</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-22.htm">Proverbs 8:22</a></div><div class="verse">The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.</div>(22) <span class= "bld">The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way.—</span>The Hebrew word translated” possessed” in this passage (<span class= "ital">qānah</span>) seems originally to have signified to” set up” or “establish,” and is applied (1) to the “forming” of the heavens (<a href="/genesis/14-19.htm" title="And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:">Genesis 14:19</a>) and the “begetting” of a son, (<a href="/deuteronomy/32-6.htm" title="Do you thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he your father that has bought you? has he not made you, and established you?">Deuteronomy 32:6</a>); next it signifies (2) to “acquire” (<a href="/genesis/4-1.htm" title="And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.">Genesis 4:1</a>), (3) to “purchase” (<a href="/genesis/25-10.htm" title="The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.">Genesis 25:10</a>), and (4) to “own,” as in <a href="/isaiah/1-3.htm" title="The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel does not know, my people does not consider.">Isaiah 1:3</a>. From the fact that “set up” and “brought forth” are used just after as synonyms to it, it is most likely that (1) is the proper meaning of the word here, and that the sense of the passage is that Wisdom was “formed” or “begotten” before the Creation, comp. <a href="/psalms/104-24.htm" title="O LORD, how manifold are your works! in wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches.">Psalm 104:24</a>. This agrees with the rendering of the most important Greek translation, the Septuagint (<span class= "greekheb">έκτισε</span>). When in Christian times it was observed how well the description of Wisdom in Job and Proverbs harmonised with that of God the Son in the New Testament, such passages as this were universally applied to Him, and the present one was rightly interpreted as describing His eternal generation from the Father. Such was the view, for instance, of Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Tertullian. But when the Arian controversy arose, this phrase was seized upon by the opponents of our Lord’s Divinity, and claimed as teaching that He was, though the highest of created beings, still only a creature. The Catholics then changed their ground, some standing up for the rendering of Aquila, <span class= "greekheb">ἐκτήσατο </span>(“acquired” or “possessed”), others applying the term <span class= "greekheb">έκτισε</span> to Christ’s Incarnation (comp. “first-begotten among many brethren,” <a href="/romans/8-29.htm" title="For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.">Romans 8:29</a>), or to His being appointed to be the first principle or efficient cause of His creatures, the “beginning of the creation of God” (<a href="/revelation/3-14.htm" title="And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;">Revelation 3:14</a>). For references to the Fathers see Bishop Wordsworth’s note, and, for a like variation in the rendering of “first-begotten of every creature,” comp. Bishop Lightfoot’s note on <a href="/colossians/1-15.htm" title=" Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:">Colossians 1:15</a>.<p><span class= "bld">In the beginning of his way.—</span>That is, His way of acting, His activity in the Creation. But the preposition “in” does not occur in this passage, and from a comparison of <a href="/job/40-19.htm" title="He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach to him.">Job 40:19</a>, where <span class= "ital">behemoth </span>(the hippopotamus) is termed the “beginning of the ways of God,” <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>chief of His works, it is probable that this verse should be translated, “He brought me forth as the beginning of His way, as the earliest of His works from of old,” <span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, before the depths, and mountains, and hills, &c<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-23.htm">Proverbs 8:23</a></div><div class="verse">I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.</div>(23) <span class= "bld">I</span> <span class= "bld">was set up.</span>—An unusual word; also applied to our Lord in <a href="/psalms/2-6.htm" title="Yet have I set my king on my holy hill of Zion.">Psalm 2:6</a> when “set” as King on Zion.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-24.htm">Proverbs 8:24</a></div><div class="verse">When <i>there were</i> no depths, I was brought forth; when <i>there were</i> no fountains abounding with water.</div>(24) <span class= "bld">I was</span> <span class= "bld">brought forth.—</span>i.e., born. The same word is used in <a href="/psalms/51-5.htm" title="Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.">Psalm 51:5</a> (7), and <a href="/job/15-7.htm" title="Are you the first man that was born? or were you made before the hills?">Job 15:7</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-26.htm">Proverbs 8:26</a></div><div class="verse">While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.</div>(26) <span class= "bld">The earth.</span>—i.e., the cultivated and enclosed part of it.<p><span class= "bld">The fields.—</span>The open country.<p><span class= "bld">The highest part of the dust of the world. </span>Literally, “the head of the dusts of the fertile earth” <span class= "ital">i.e. </span>the heaps of the clods of arable land, or better perhaps, “the sum of the atoms of dust.” Some refer to <a href="/genesis/2-7.htm" title="And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.">Genesis 2:7</a>, and interpret the words of man, as formed out of the dust.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-27.htm">Proverbs 8:27</a></div><div class="verse">When he prepared the heavens, I <i>was</i> there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:</div>(27) <span class= "bld">When he set a compass upon the face of the depth</span>—<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>when He stretched the vault of heaven over it: the same expression is used in <a href="/job/22-14.htm" title="Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.">Job 22:14</a>. It is also interpreted of the circle of the horizon.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-28.htm">Proverbs 8:28</a></div><div class="verse">When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:</div>(28) <span class= "bld">When he established the clouds above.—</span>Literally, <span class= "ital">made firm; </span>comp. <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm" title="And God said, Let there be a firmament in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.">Genesis 1:6</a>.<p><span class= "bld">When he strengthened the fountains of the deep.</span>—More probably, <span class= "ital">when they flowed forth with strength.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-29.htm">Proverbs 8:29</a></div><div class="verse">When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:</div>(29) <span class= "bld">When he gave to the sea his decree </span>. . .—Compare the same thoughts in <a href="/job/38-4.htm" title="Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.">Job 38:4</a>; <a href="/context/job/38-10.htm" title="And broke up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,">Job 38:10-11</a>.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-30.htm">Proverbs 8:30</a></div><div class="verse">Then I was by him, <i>as</i> one brought up <i>with him</i>: and I was daily <i>his</i> delight, rejoicing always before him;</div>(30) <span class= "bld">As one brought up with him—</span><span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, his foster child; as Mordecai “brought up” Esther (<a href="/esther/2-7.htm" title="And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.">Esther 2:7</a>). But the word may also bear the sense of “artificer.” It probably occurs in this meaning in <a href="/jeremiah/52-15.htm" title="Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.">Jeremiah 52:15</a> (though translated “multitude,” in accordance with <a href="/2_kings/25-11.htm" title="Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away.">2Kings 25:11</a>), and in a slightly different form, <a href="/songs/7-1.htm" title="How beautiful are your feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.">Song of Solomon 7:1</a>. This meaning is much more suitable, and harmonises with <a href="/psalms/104-24.htm" title="O LORD, how manifold are your works! in wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches.">Psalm 104:24</a>; <a href="/psalms/136-5.htm" title="To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endures for ever.">Psalm 136:5</a>, and <a href="/hebrews/1-2.htm" title="Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;">Hebrews 1:2</a>.<p><span class= "bld">I was daily his delight.—</span>The pronoun “his” does not occur in the Hebrew, which is, literally, <span class= "ital">I was delights, i.e., </span>all joy, delight, as <a href="/psalms/109-4.htm" title="For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself to prayer.">Psalm 109:4</a> : “I am prayer,” <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>give myself wholly to it. The words express the joy with which Wisdom carried out the work of God.<p><span class= "bld">Rejoicing always before him.—</span>The same expression is used in <a href="/2_samuel/6-21.htm" title="And David said to Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before your father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.">2Samuel 6:21</a> by David (there translated “play”), to describe his “leaping and dancing before the Lord.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-31.htm">Proverbs 8:31</a></div><div class="verse">Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights <i>were</i> with the sons of men.</div>(31) <span class= "bld">Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth.</span>—Rather, <span class= "ital">the fertile part. </span>(Comp. <a href="/genesis/1-31.htm" title="And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.">Genesis 1:31</a>, where the satisfaction of God with His creation is described; and <a href="/psalms/104-31.htm" title="The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.">Psalm 104:31</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">My delights were with the sons of men.—</span>Or rather, <span class= "ital">in them. </span>(Comp. <a href="/genesis/3-8.htm" title="And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.">Genesis 3:8</a>, where it would seem that the “Lord God” had been in the habit of assuming human form, and admitting man to His presence.) Such appearances as this, and that to Abraham in Genesis 18, and to Joshua in Joshua 5, were supposed by the Fathers to have been anticipations of the Incarnation of God the Son, who is here described under the name of Wisdom.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-32.htm">Proverbs 8:32</a></div><div class="verse">Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed <i>are they that</i> keep my ways.</div>(32) <span class= "bld">Now therefore hearken—</span><span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, now that ye know how great my power is, and what love I have to you, in that I rejoice in you, and call you my sons. (Comp. <a href="/1_john/3-1.htm" title="Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.">1John 3:1</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-34.htm">Proverbs 8:34</a></div><div class="verse">Blessed <i>is</i> the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.</div>(34) <span class= "bld">Watching daily at my gates.—</span>A figure taken from an ardent scholar waiting till the doors of the school are opened, and he can begin his studies. Or it represents a courtier expecting the appearance of his sovereign, or a lover that of his mistress. (Comp. <a href="//apocrypha.org/wisdom_of_solomon/8-2.htm" title="I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.">Wisdom Of Solomon 8:2</a>.)<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-35.htm">Proverbs 8:35</a></div><div class="verse">For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.</div>(35) <span class= "bld">Whoso findeth me findeth life.—</span>Comp. <a href="/1_john/5-12.htm" title="He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.">1John 5:12</a>; <a href="/john/8-51.htm" title="Truly, truly, I say to you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.">John 8:51</a>; and above, <a href="/proverbs/3-18.htm" title="She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and happy is every one that retains her.">Proverbs 3:18</a>, where Wisdom is described as a “tree of life.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/proverbs/8-36.htm">Proverbs 8:36</a></div><div class="verse">But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.</div>(36) <span class= "bld">He that sinneth against me.—</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">He that misses me does not find me. </span>So in Greek, sin (<span class= "greekheb">ἁμαρτία</span>) is a “missing” of the true object of life.<p><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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