the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . the beginning: not the end. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . wisdom. See note on Proverbs 1:2 . the knowledge, &c. Not departing from evil from policy, but hating it (Proverbs 8:13 ). the holy = the Holy One. (Plural of majesty.) understanding = discernment. See note on Proverbs 1:2 . read more
Proverbs 9:10. Understanding— Schultens, Calmet, and many others, render this Prudence; Christian prudence, true prudence, which consists in discerning what is more or less advantageous in all matters, and in choosing the means proper for execution, is undoubtedly the knowledge of the Holy; for it is by this that they are conducted through divine grace in the right way to heaven, and avoid the dangers which destroy so many thoughtless and imprudent persons. Some understand the text differently;... read more
10. (Compare :-). of the holy—literally, "holies," persons or things, or both. This knowledge gives right perception. read more
C. Wisdom and folly contrasted ch. 9This chapter contrasts wisdom and folly in a very symmetrical structure. Proverbs 9:1-6 correspond to Proverbs 9:13-18 remarkably. This chiastic form of presentation sets off the central verses (Proverbs 9:7-12) as the most important in the chapter. read more
2. The open or closed mind 9:7-12People do not usually live or die because of only one decision. They develop a pattern of life that ends in either death or life. This section helps us see the outcome of these styles of life. If a person is open to God and teachable, he will become wise, but if he does not accept this instruction and closes his mind, he becomes a fool.The person who tries to help a fool by correcting him will get no honor from the fool. The fool’s folly has closed his mind to... read more
The RivalsFolly and Wisdom invite guests to their respective houses. The consequences of accepting either of the two invitations are described. We are reminded of the Greek parable, ’The choice of Hercules,’ which related how the hero, at the beginning of his career, was accosted by two fair women, Virtue and Vice, who would have him tread, one the rough, the other the flowery way.1-6. Wisdom’s invitation.1. The word Wisdom is in the plural, to indicate her variety and perfection. She has a... read more
(10) The fear of the Lord . . .—Comp. Isaiah 11:2, where the “spirit of knowledge” and of the “fear of the Lord” is counted as the gift of God. (For the general sense of the passage, see above, on Proverbs 1:7.)Knowledge of the holy—i.e., “the Holy One,” as in Proverbs 30:3. read more
CHAPTER 10TWO VOICES IN THE HIGH PLACES OF THE CITYProverbs 9:1-18, Proverbs 20:14 with Proberbs 3, and Proverbs 20:16 with Proverbs 4:1-27AFTER the lengthened contrast between the vicious woman and Wisdom in chapters 7 and 8, the introduction of the book closes with a little picture which is intended to repeat and sum up all that has gone before. It is a peroration, simple, graphic, and beautiful.There is a kind of competition between Wisdom and Folly, between Righteousness and Sin, between... read more
33CHAPTER 2THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."- Proverbs 1:7"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."- Proverbs 9:10"To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and it was created with the faithful in the womb"- Sirach 1:14; also Psalms 111:10THE book of Proverbs belongs to a group of works in the Hebrew literature the subject of which is Wisdom. It is probably the earliest of them all, and... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 9:1-18
Invitations from ‘Wisdom’ and ‘Folly’ (9:1-18)Wisdom is again personified in a gracious lady. This time she invites the silly and the ignorant to a great feast that she has prepared in her magnificent house. She wants them to come and enjoy the life-giving gifts of wisdom and discernment that she freely offers (9:1-6).Whether people desire wisdom depends largely upon the character they have developed in themselves over the years. When people grow conceited in their opinions and blind to their... read more