Proverbs 8:4

4 "To you, O {people}, I call, and my cry is to the children of humankind.

Proverbs 8:4 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 8:4

Unto you, O men, I call
Not angels, the fallen angels; for, as they had nothing to do with Christ, he had nothing to do with them, or say unto them, ( Matthew 8:29 ) ; nor the brutes, irrational creatures; for, though the Gospel is to be preached to every creature, yet only to rational ones, ( Mark 16:15 ) , "men", whom God has loved and Christ has redeemed; these are by the Gospel called, and called effectually. There are some men indeed who are only externally called; but there are others who are also called with an holy calling, of which (See Gill on Proverbs 1:24). Some think men of eminence are here meant, as rich men, so Aben Ezra; or men of wisdom and knowledge, such as the Scribes and Pharisees, and learned doctors among the Jews; but it rather seems to design men indefinitely, of whatsoever rank or order, state or condition;

and my voice [is] to the sons of men;
which some interpret of the poor, as Aben Ezra; or those who are more illiterate, or the common people; so that high and low, rich and poor, have the Gospel preached unto them; but the phrase seems to intend the same as before, the same thing is said in different words.

Proverbs 8:4 In-Context

2 {Atop the heights} beside the road, at the crossroads she stands.
3 Beside gates, before towns, [at the] entrance of doors, she cries out:
4 "To you, O {people}, I call, and my cry is to the children of humankind.
5 Learn prudence, O simple ones; fools, learn {intelligence}.
6 Listen! For noble things I will speak, and upright things from the opening of my lips.

Footnotes 1

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.