Proverbs 8 · Verse 12

Proverbs 8:12

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Proverbs 8:12, King James Version

Proverbs 8:12 in other translations

BSBI, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
WEB“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
ASVI wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge and discretion.
YLTI, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And a knowledge of devices I find out.
DARBYI wisdom dwell with prudence, and find the knowledge which cometh of reflection.
BBEI, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes.
WebsterI wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of ingenious inventions.

What does Proverbs 8:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. prudence--as in Pr 8:5. The connection of "wisdom" and "prudence" is that of the dictates of sound wisdom and its application. find ... inventions--or, "devices," "discreet ways" (Pr 1:4).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 I wisdom dwell with prudence - Prudence is defined, wisdom applied to practice; so wherever true wisdom is, it will lead to action, and its activity will be always in reference to the accomplishment of the best ends by the use of the most appropriate means. Hence comes what is here called knowledge of witty inventions, דעת מזמות אמצא daath mezimmoth emtsa, "I have found out knowledge and contrivance." The farther wisdom proceeds in man, the more practical knowledge it gains; and finding out the nature and properties of things, and the general course of providence, it can contrive by new combinations to produce new results.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 8:12-21
Wisdom, here is Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word, and Christ in the heart; not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us. All prudence and skill are from the Lord. Through the redemption of Christ's precious blood, the riches of his grace abound in all wisdom and prudence. Man found out many inventions for ruin; God found one for our recovery. He hates pride and arrogance, evil ways and froward conversation; these render men unwilling to hear his humbling, awakening, holy instructions. True religion gives men the best counsel in all difficult cases, and helps to make their way plain. His wisdom makes all truly happy who receive it in the love of Christ Jesus. Seek him early, seek him earnestly, seek him before any thing else. Christ never said, Seek in vain. Those who love Christ, are such as have seen his loveliness, and have had his love shed abroad in their hearts; therefore they are happy. They shall be happy in this world, or in that which is beyond compare better. Wealth gotten by vanity will soon be diminished, but that which is well got, will wear well; and that which is well spent upon works of piety and charity, will be lasting. If they have not riches and honour in this world, they shall have that which is infinitely better. They shall be happy in the grace of God. Christ, by his Spirit, guides believers into all truth, and so leads them in the way of righteousness; and they walk after the Spirit. Also, they shall be happy in the glory of God hereafter. In Wisdom's promises, believers have goods laid up, not for days and years, but for eternity; her fruit therefore is better than gold.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 8:12 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.

אֲֽנִי\־'ani-IH589
חָ֭כְמָהchokh.mahwisdomH2451
שָׁכַ֣נְתִּיsha.Khan.tiI dwellH7931
עָרְמָ֑ה'a.re.MahprudenceH6195
וְדַ֖עַתve.Da.'atand knowledge ofH1847
מְזִמּ֣וֹתme.zi.MotdiscretionH4209
אֶמְצָֽא\׃'em.Tza'I findH4672

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 8:12

  • Isaiah 28:26

    For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

  • Exodus 35:30-36:4

    And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. …

  • Exodus 31:3-6

    And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

  • Romans 11:33

    O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

  • Proverbs 1:4

    To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

  • Ephesians 1:11

    In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

  • Colossians 2:3

    In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

  • 1 Chronicles 28:19

    All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

  • Isaiah 55:8-9

    For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

  • Psalms 104:24

    O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

  • 1 Kings 7:14

    He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.

  • 2 Chronicles 13:14

    And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I wisdom.
Ps 104:24; Isa 55:8,9; Ro 11:33; Eph 1:8,11; 3:10; Col 2:3
prudence. or, subtlety. knowledge.
Ex 31:3-6; 35:30-35; 36:1-4; 1Ki 7:14; 1Ch 28:12,19; 2Ch 13:14
Isa 28:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 8:11

    For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

  • Proverbs 8:12

    I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

  • Proverbs 8:13

    The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Read all of Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo, la sabiduría, habito con la discreción, y hallo la ciencia de los consejos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Moi, la sagesse, je demeure avec la prudence, et je trouve la connaissance qui vient de la réflexion.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich, Weisheit, bewohne die Klugheit, und finde die Erkenntnis der Besonnenheit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego sapientia, habito in consilio, et eruditis intersum cogitationibus.