Proverbs 1:21

21 on top of the wall[a] she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:

Proverbs 1:21 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
English Standard Version (ESV)
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
New Living Translation (NLT)
21 She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:
The Message Bible (MSG)
21 In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out:
American Standard Version (ASV)
21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
21 At the corners of noisy streets she calls out. At the entrances to the city she speaks her words,
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
21 She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
21 At the noisy street corners she cries out. Here is what she says near the gates of the city.

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 go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:
22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Septuagint; Hebrew "/ at noisy street corners"
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