Proverbs 8:22-31

22 ¹"The LORD ² possessed^[a] me at the beginning of his work,^[b] the first of his acts ³of old.

23 Ages ago I was ⁴set up, at the first, ⁵before the beginning of the earth.

24 When there were no ⁶depths I was ⁷brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains ⁸had been shaped, ⁹before the hills, I was brought forth,

26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.

27 When he ¹⁰established the heavens, I was there; when he drew ¹¹a circle on the face of the deep,

28 when he ¹²made firm the skies above, when he established^[c] the fountains of the deep,

29 when he ¹³assigned to the sea its ¹⁴limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out ¹⁵the foundations of the earth,

30 then ¹⁶I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his^[d]17delight, rejoicing before him always,

31 ¹⁸rejoicing in his ¹⁹inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

Proverbs 8:22-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 8

This chapter contains the instructions of Wisdom or Christ; showing the excellency of them, and the author of them, in opposition to the harlot and her allurements, in the preceding chapter. Christ, under the name of Wisdom, is represented as an herald, publishing the Gospel in the ministry of the word, either in person or by his servants, Pr 8:1. The places where this proclamation is made are described, Pr 8:2,3; the persons to whom, Pr 8:4,5. The excellency of the things delivered, being right things; truth, agreeably to the word of God, plain and easy to be understood, and of more worth than gold, silver, and precious stones, Pr 8:6-11. And then Wisdom, or Christ, is commended and recommended by his consummate prudence and knowledge, by his hatred of evil, and by his influence on the political affairs of kings and princes, Pr 8:12-16; and the advantages of those that are early seekers of him are pointed out; their enjoyment of his favour, of his riches, honour and righteousness; and their being led by him in right paths now, and inheriting eternal glory hereafter, Pr 8:17-21. And next follows an account of his existence from eternity as a divine Person, illustrated by a variety of phrases, Pr 8:22-29; and of his being with the Father; of his great affection for him, and complacency in him; and of Christ's wonderful delight and pleasure in the sons of men, Pr 8:30,31. And the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to them to hearken to his instructions; setting forth the happiness of those that wait on him in public ordinances, and find him; and the misery of those that hate and reject him.

Cross References

• 1. See Job 28:25-28
• 2. Genesis 14:19, 22; [Psalms 104:24; Psalms 136:5]
• 3. Psalms 93:2
• 4. Psalms 2:6
• 5. [John 17:5]
• 6. ver. 27, 28; Proverbs 3:20; Genesis 1:2
• 7. Job 15:7; Psalms 51:5
• 8. Job 38:6(Heb.)
• 9. Psalms 90:2
• 10. Proverbs 3:19
• 11. Job 26:10
• 12. Genesis 1:6
• 13. Genesis 1:9, 10
• 14. See Job 26:10
• 15. See Psalms 104:5
• 16. Zechariah 13:7; [John 1:1, 2]
• 17. Psalms 16:3; [Matthew 3:17]
• 18. [Genesis 1:31; Psalms 104:31]
• 19. Isaiah 45:18

Footnotes

• [a]. Or fathered; Septuagint created
• [b]. Hebrew way
• [c]. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
• [d]. Or daily filled with