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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:4

Unto you, O men, I call. "Men," ishim ( אִישִׁים ); equivalent to ἄνδρες , viri, men in the highest sense, who have some wisdom and experience, but need further enlightenment ( Isaiah 53:3 ; Psalms 141:4 ). The sons of man; בְּנֵי אָדָם , "children of Adam;" equivalent to ἄνθρωποι , homines, the general kind of men, who are taken up with material interests. St. Gregory notes ('Moral ,' 27.6) that persons ( heroines ) of perfect life are in Scripture... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:4-11

She summons various classes of persons to attend to her, showing how trustworthy she is, and how precious her instruction. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 8:2-6

Proverbs 8:2-6 . She standeth in the top of high places Where she may be best seen and heard; not in corners, and in the dark, as the harlot did; by the way in the places of the paths Where many paths meet, where there is a great concourse, and where travellers may need direction. She crieth at the gates The places of judgment, and of the confluence of the people; at the entry of the city To invite passengers at their first coming, and to conduct them to her house; at the coming in... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 8:1-36

Eternal wisdom available to all (8:1-36)Once again wisdom is personified as a woman standing in a public place and speaking to the people who pass by (8:1-3; cf. 1:20-21). Even the immature and foolish can learn wisdom (4-5). One characteristic of wisdom is speech that is wholesome, true and straightforward (6-9). The instruction given by wisdom is beyond value, for it produces all those qualities most necessary for a truly worthwhile life. Yet it will not lead to pride, for people can only... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 8:4

men. Hebrew. 'ishim. App-14 . man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 8:1-5

Wisdom as guide 8:1-5By personifying wisdom Solomon was able to illustrate two things about it in these verses, both of which concern the guidance that is available in wisdom (understanding, insight). Wisdom is available everywhere (Proverbs 8:2-3) and to anyone (Proverbs 8:5). It does not take a superior intellect to be wise in the biblical sense. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 8:1-36

13. The function of wisdom ch. 8Chapter 8 is an apology (defense) of wisdom. The argument of this section develops as follows. Wisdom would be every person’s guide (Proverbs 8:1-5; cf. Galatians 5:18; Galatians 5:22-23). She is morality’s partner (Proverbs 8:6-13), the key to success (Proverbs 8:14-21), the principle of creation (Proverbs 8:22-31), and the one essential necessity of life (Proverbs 8:32-36). Chapter 8 contains the longest sustained personification in the Bible. [Note: Merrill,... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 8:1-36

Wisdom’s CryWisdom now reappears as a preacher, holding forth in all the places where men most do congregate. After expounding in varied ways the excellence of the gifts which she can bestow, she asserts that she was the first of all God’s creatures, who stood at His side when He formed our world, and took part in His work as a master workman, whose delight has always been in the lives and affairs of men. In Proverbs 8:1-21 we find only the ordinary kind of personification, in which a quality... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Proverbs 8:4

(4) O men—i.e., “great ones;” “sons of man” are those of inferior rank; comp. the Hebrew of Isaiah 2:9, where the same words are translated “great man,” and “mean man.” Comp. the generality of the invitation of Psalms 49:2. read more

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