Proverbs 8 · Verse 22

Proverbs 8:22

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Proverbs 8:22, King James Version

Proverbs 8:22 in other translations

BSBThe LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
WEB“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
ASVJehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.
YLTJehovah possessed me--the beginning of His way, Before His works since then.
DARBYJehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
BBEThe Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past.
WebsterThe LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

What does Proverbs 8:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 8:22-31
22-31. Strictly, God's attributes are part of Himself. Yet, to the poetical structure of the whole passage, this commendation of wisdom is entirely consonant. In order of time all His attributes are coincident and eternal as Himself. But to set forth the importance of wisdom as devising the products of benevolence and power, it is here assigned a precedence. As it has such in divine, so should it be desired in human, affairs (compare Pr 3:19). possessed--or, "created"; in either sense, the idea of precedence. in the beginning--or simply, "beginning," in apposition with "me." before ... of old--preceding the most ancient deeds.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way - Wisdom is not acquired by the Divine Being; man, and even angels, learn it by slow and progressive degrees; but in God it is as eternally inherent as any other essential attribute of his nature. The Targum makes this wisdom a creature, by thus translating the passage: אלהא בראני בריש בריתיה Elaha barani bereish biriteiah, "God created me in the beginning of his creatures." The Syriac is the same. This is as absurd and heretical as some modern glosses on the same passage.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 8:22-31
The Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in the creation of the world. How able, how fit is the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world, who was the Creator of it! The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work. Does he delight in saving wretched sinners, and shall not we delight in his salvation?

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 8:22 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.

יְֽהוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068
קָ֭נָנִיKa.na.nihe created meH7069
רֵאשִׁ֣יתre.Shit[the] beginning ofH7225
דַּרְכּ֑וֹdar.Koway hisH1870
קֶ֖דֶםKe.dem[the] beginning ofH6924
מִפְעָלָ֣יוmif.'a.Lavworks hisH4659
מֵאָֽז\׃me.'Azfrom thenH227

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

Cross references for Proverbs 8:22

  • Colossians 1:17

    And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

  • John 1:1-2

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

  • Proverbs 3:19

    The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

  • Psalms 104:24

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

  • Job 28:26-28

    When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3:19; Joh 1:1,2; Col 1:17

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

Context

  • Proverbs 8:21

    That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

  • Proverbs 8:22

    The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

  • Proverbs 8:23

    I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

Read all of Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Jehová me poseía en el principio de su camino, ya de antiguo, antes de sus obras.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’ Éternel m’a possédée au commencement de sa voie, avant ses œuvres d’ancienneté.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jehova besaß mich im Anfang seines Weges, vor seinen Werken von jeher.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum antequam quidquam faceret a principio.