Proverbs 8 · Verse 31

Proverbs 8:31

Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Proverbs 8:31, King James Version

Proverbs 8:31 in other translations

BSBI was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
WEBrejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
ASVRejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.
YLTRejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights are with the sons of men.
DARBYrejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men.
BBEPlaying in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.
WebsterRejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

What does Proverbs 8:31 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…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 8:22-31 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth - There God displays especially his wisdom in ordering and directing human beings, and in providing for their wants. The wisdom of God is in an especial manner manifested in his providence. My delights were with the sons of men - This Divine wisdom, as it delighted in the creation of man, so it continues to delight in his instruction. Hence it is represented as offering its lessons of instruction continually, and using every means and opportunity to call men from folly and vice to sound knowledge, holiness, and happiness. It is to man that God especially gives wisdom; and he has it in the form of reason beyond all other creatures; therefore it is said, "My delights are with the sons of men;" to them I open my choicest treasures. They alone are capable of sapience, intelligence, and discursive reason.

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?

Read the full comment on Proverbs 8:22-31 →

Proverbs 8:31 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.

מְ֭שַׂחֶקֶתMe.sa.che.ketplayingH7832
בְּתֵבֵ֣לbe.te.Velin [the] world ofH8398
אַרְצ֑וֹ'ar.Tzoearth hisH776
וְ֝שַׁעֲשֻׁעַ֗יve.sha.'a.shu.'Aiand delight<s> myH8191
אֶת\־'et-[were] withH854
בְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei[the] children ofH1121
אָדָֽם\׃\ \פ'a.DamhumankindH120

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

Cross references for Proverbs 8:31

  • Psalms 16:3

    But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

  • John 13:1

    Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

  • Psalms 40:6-8

    Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:9

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

  • John 4:34

    Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and my.
Ps 16:3; 40:6-8; Joh 4:34; 13:1; 2Co 8:9

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

Context

  • Proverbs 8:30

    Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

  • Proverbs 8:31

    Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

  • Proverbs 8:32

    Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

Read all of Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Huélgome en la parte habitable de su tierra; y mis delicias son con los hijos de los hombres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		me réjouissant en la partie habitable de sa terre, et mes délices étaient dans les fils des hommes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		mich ergötzend auf dem bewohnten Teile seiner Erde; und meine Wonne war bei den Menschenkindern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ludens in orbe terrarum; et deliciæ meæ esse cum filiis hominum.