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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 9:1-12

Wisdom is here introduced as a magnificent and munificent queen, very great and very generous; that Word of God is this Wisdom in which God makes known his goodwill towards men; God the Word is this Wisdom, to whom the Father has committed all judgment. He who, in the chapter before, showed his grandeur and glory as the Creator of the world, here shows his grace and goodness as the Redeemer of it. The word is plural, Wisdoms; for in Christ are hid treasures of wisdom, and in his undertaking... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom ,.... This shows who the wise men are, and in what true wisdom lies; no man is wise till he fears the Lord, and he that does so is a wise man, at least then he begins to be one; this is the principal part of wisdom, Proverbs 1:7 ; and is at the first of it; it is the beginning of grace; it is the first act of wisdom, or grace; or which appears as soon as a man is converted and caused to know wisdom in the hidden part; as repentance, faith,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord - See on Proverbs 1:7 ; (note). The knowledge of the holy; קדשים kedoshim , of the holy ones: Sanctorum, of the saints - Vulgate. boulh agiwn, the counsel of the holy persons. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:1-18

15. Fifteenth admonitory discourse, containing in a parabolic form an invitation of Wisdom ( Proverbs 9:1-12 ), and that of her rival Folly ( Proverbs 9:13-18 ). The chapter sums up in brief the warnings of the preceding part. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:4-12

Here follows the invitation of Wisdom, urging the attendance of guests at the sumptuous banquet which she has prepared (comp. Revelation 19:9 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:7-10

These verses form a parenthesis, showing why Wisdom addresses only the simple and foolish. She giveth not that which is holy unto dogs, nor casteth pearls before swine ( Matthew 7:6 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:10

Wisdom returns to the first apothegm and principle of the whole book ( Proverbs 1:7 ). Without the fear of God no teaching is of any avail. The knowledge of the holy is understanding. The word translated "the holy" is קְדשִׁים , a plural of excellence (see on Proverbs 30:3 ) like Elohim, and equivalent to "the Most Holy One," Jehovah, to which it answers in the first hemistich. God is called "Holy, holy, holy" ( Isaiah 6:3 ), in his threefold nature, and as majestic beyond... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:10-11

Digging deep rising high, lasting long (See homilies on Proverbs 1:7 and Proverbs 3:1-4 .) The fact that we meet with the opening sentence of the text in no less than three other places ( Job 27:1-23 :28; Psalms 111:10 ; Proverbs 1:7 ), gives to it a peculiar significance. It indicates that the Divine Author of the Bible would impress deeply on our minds the truth— I. THAT ON THE FEAR OF GOD , AS ON A SOLID ROCK , ALL HUMAN WISDOM RESTS . Nothing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:10-12

Recurrence to first principles Life is made up of circles. We are ever coming back to whence we started. As history repeats itself, so must morality and religion. The shining points of wisdom appear and reappear with the regularity of the heavenly bodies. The vault of heaven has its analogue in the star-besprinkled vault of the moral relations. Iteration and repetition of first principles are constantly necessary, ever wholesome, peculiarly characteristic of Semitic thought. Wherever life... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 9:10-12

Proverbs 9:10-12. The fear of the Lord, &c. The very first, and, indeed, the principal thing which is to be instilled into all men’s minds, (without which they will make no progress in true wisdom,) is a serious sense of the Divine Majesty, and an awful regard toward him. And next, that no knowledge deserves the name of understanding but that which disposes us to devote ourselves, in holy obedience, to God; or the knowledge and practice of true religion, and the duties of it: see... read more

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