Proverbs 8:1
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Proverbs 8:1 in other translations
| BSB | Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice? |
|---|---|
| WEB | Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice? |
| ASV | Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice? |
| YLT | Doth not wisdom call? And understanding give forth her voice? |
| DARBY | Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice? |
| BBE | Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding? |
| Webster | Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? |
What does Proverbs 8:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 8:1-4
Pr 8:1-36. Contrasted with sensual allurements are the advantages of divine wisdom, which publicly invites men, offers the best principles of life, and the most valuable benefits resulting from receiving her counsels. Her relation to the divine plans and acts is introduced, as in Pr 3:19, 20, though more fully, to commend her desirableness for men, and the whole is closed by an assurance that those finding her find God's favor, and those neglecting ruin themselves. Many regard the passage as a description of the Son of God by the title, Wisdom, which the older Jews used (and by which He is called in Lu 11:49), as Joh 1:1, &c., describes Him by that of Logos, the Word. But the passage may be taken as a personification of wisdom: for, (1) Though described as with God, wisdom is not asserted to be God. (2) The use of personal attributes is equally consistent with a personification, as with the description of a real person. (3) The personal pronouns used accord with the gender (feminine) of wisdom constantly, and are never changed to that of the person meant, as sometimes occurs in a corresponding use of spirit, which is neuter in Greek, but to which masculine pronouns are often applied (Joh 16:14), when the acts of the Holy Spirit are described. (4) Such a personification is agreeable to the style of this book (compare Pr 1:20; 3:16, 17; 4:8; 6:20-22; 9:1-4), whereas no prophetical or other allusions to the Saviour or the new dispensation are found among the quotations of this book in the New Testament, and unless this be such, none exist. (5) Nothing is lost as to the importance of this passage, which still remains a most ornate and also solemn and impressive teaching of inspiration on the value of wisdom.
1-4. The publicity and universality of the call contrast with the secrecy and intrigues of the wicked (Pr 7:8, &c.).Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
The fame and excellence of wisdom, and its manner of teaching, Pro 8:1-4; the matter of its exhortations, Pro 8:5-12; its influence among men, Pro 8:13-21; its antiquity, Pro 8:22-31; the blessedness of attending to its counsels, Pro 8:32-35; the misery of those who do not, Pro 8:36. Verse 1 Doth not wisdom cry? - Here wisdom is again personified; but the prosopopoeia is carried on to a greater length than before, and with much more variety. It is represented in this chapter in a twofold point of view: 1. Wisdom, the power of judging rightly, implying the knowledge of Divine and human things. 2. As an attribute of God, particularly displayed in the various and astonishing works of creation. Nor has it any other meaning in this whole chapter, whatever some of the fathers may have dreamed, who find allegorical meanings every where. The wise man seems as if suddenly awakened from the distressful contemplation which he had before him, - of the ruin of young persons in both worlds by means of debauchery, - by the voice of wisdom, who has lifted up her voice in the most public places, where was the greatest concourse of the people, to warn the yet unsnared, that they might avoid the way of seduction and sin; and cause those who love her to inherit substance, and to have their treasuries filled with durable riches.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 8:1-11
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Proverbs 8:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Proverbs 8:1
- Proverbs 1:20-21
Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
- Matthew 3:3
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
- John 7:37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
- Proverbs 9:1-3
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
- Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
- Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
- Romans 15:18-21
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
- Isaiah 55:1-3
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
- Isaiah 49:1-6
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. …
- Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6 and evidence of wisdom.
10 The excellency,
12 the nature,
15 the power,
18 the riches,
22 and the eternity of wisdom.
32 Wisdom is to be desired for the blessedness it brings.
1:20,21; 9:1-3; Isa 49:1-6; 55:1-3; Mt 3:3; 4:17; 28:19,20
Mr 13:10; 16:15,16; Lu 24:47; Joh 7:37; Ac 1:8; 22:21; Ro 15:18-21
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Proverbs 8:1
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
- Proverbs 8:2
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
Proverbs 8:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | ¿NO clama la sabiduría, y da su voz la inteligencia? |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | La sagesse ne crie-t-elle pas, et l’intelligence ne fait-elle pas retentir sa voix? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Ruft nicht die Weisheit, und läßt nicht die Einsicht ihre Stimme erschallen? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Numquid non sapientia clamitat, et prudentia dat vocem suam? |