Proverbs 1:21

21 She cries out above[a] the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

Proverbs 1:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 1:21

She crieth in the chief place of concourse
Where a multitude of people meet together; the Targum is,

``on the top of palaces;''
but rather it is to be understood of the synagogues of the Jews, where Christ frequently preached; and which, from hence, they build in the highest part of the city F3; and best of all the temple, whither the tribes of Israel went up to worship in great bodies, and to which the Jews daily resorted; here Christ taught publicly, as he himself says, ( John 18:20 ) ; in the opening of the gates;
either of the city, at which people went in and out in great numbers; or of the temple, where they passed and repassed continually on account of worship; see ( John 10:23 ) ( Acts 3:10 Acts 3:11 ) ; in allusion hereunto the public worship of God's house is signified by the gates of Zion, and also of Wisdom, ( Psalms 87:2 ) ( Proverbs 8:34 ) ; in the city she uttereth her words;
the doctrines of the Gospel; even in the city of Jerusalem literally, and in other cities of Judea and Galilee, the singular being put for the plural; and figuratively in the church of God, often compared to a city; and so all these expressions of "without", in the "streets", in the "chief place of concourse", "the opening of the gates", and "the city", may denote in general the openness and publicness of the Gospel ministry, both by Christ in his apostles, in Judea, and in the Gentile world; more especially the former; [saying],
as follows.
FOOTNOTES:

F3 Maimon. Hilchot Tephillah, c. 11. s. 2.

Proverbs 1:21 In-Context

19 Such are the paths of all who pursue gain dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who profit from it.
20 Wisdom calls out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares.
21 She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22 "How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? [How long] will [you] mockers enjoy mocking and [you] fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn to my discipline, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words.

Footnotes 1

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.