Proverbs 30:3

3 God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.

Proverbs 30:3 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 30:3

I neither learned wisdom
Natural wisdom or philosophy, so as to understand the nature of things, and reason about them in a philosophical manner; or political wisdom, so as to know how to govern states, and manage the affairs of kingdoms; or in a lower sphere to transact the affairs of life to any peculiar advantage; he had not a polite or liberal education: or spiritual and evangelical wisdom; that is, not of himself through the mere strength and force of his genius and natural capacity, or of others; he was not the son of a prophet, nor brought up in the schools of the prophets; he did not learn it, nor was he taught it by men; for this is not acquired by human teaching; it is what comes from above, from heaven, and by the revelation of God; nor have the knowledge of the holy;
or "holies" ^F19; either of holy persons, such knowledge as holy men of God had; or of the holy angels, not of their nature, capacities, influence and operations; nor such as they have: or rather of the holy Persons in the Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit; their nature modes of subsisting, perfections, purposes, and the like; at least not a full and comprehensive one: or of holy things, of the holy Scriptures, and the holy doctrines of them; however, not what is perfect and complete. It may be rendered, "but I have the knowledge of the holy" ^F20, though he had not the advantage of human literature, nor had ever been under the instructions of men on one account or another, and therefore what he knew, or was about to discourse of, was from God. Some understand this verse and ( Proverbs 30:2 ) of Ithiel, or Christ ^F21, as in the esteem of men, ( 1 Corinthians 1:23 ) ( John 7:15 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F19 (Myvdq) "sanctorum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Gejerus, Cocceius, Schultens.
F20 (eda Myvdq tedw) "ad cognitionem sanctorum novi", Michaelis; "expers sum humanarnm artium, et divinarum guarus sum", Vatablus in Gejerus.
F21 Teelman. Specimen. Explicat. Parabol. p. 391.

Proverbs 30:3 In-Context

1 These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.

2 For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men.

3 God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.

4 Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?

5 For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.