Proverbs 9:1-10

1 Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;

2 she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;

3 she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,

4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,

5 Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.

6 Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.

7 He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise [man], and he will love thee.

9 Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase learning.

10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence.

Proverbs 9:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 9

In this chapter, Wisdom, or Christ, is represented as having built a stately house or palace for the entertainment of his guests, Pr 9:1; as having made large and suitable provisions for them, Pr 9:2; and as having sent his servants to invite them to come and partake of them, and quit all other company but his, Pr 9:3-6; When it is observed who are and who are not to be reproved, with the reasons of it, Pr 9:7-9; and what is the sum and substance of true wisdom; and what the advantages of it both here and hereafter, Pr 9:10-12; And the chapter is concluded with the description of the foolish woman, the opposite of Wisdom; who is represented as clamorous, simple, and ignorant, Pr 9:13; and plying passengers that go by her door, and inviting them in to partake of her provisions, Pr 9:14-17; the consequence of which is sure and certain death and destruction to her guests, Pr 9:18.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit. 'her slaughtering:' see Gen. 43.16.
• [b]. Or 'furnished,' as Ps. 78.19.
• [c]. As ch. 6.32; and ver. 16.
• [d]. Strictly, 'simplicities:' plural of 'simple,' vers. 4,16; ch. 1.4.
• [e]. Or 'the principle of.' Not as ch. 1.7.
• [f]. Or 'of holy things;' plural, as ch. 30.3.