SUMMARY
Woman WisdomWisdom encompasses the qualities of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Old Testament book of Proverbs, which sometimes invokes a Woman as the personification of Wisdom, is a collection of aphorisms and moral teachings. Along with other biblical passages, it teaches, "The fear of the... issues a call in public places with a prophetic voice.
ANALYSIS
In 1:20-33 Woman Wisdom speaks like a prophet, crying aloud in the streets and at the city gates, issuing reproaches, warnings, and promises with prophetic authority. If one reads this passage substituting the words “The prophet” for “Wisdom” in verse 1:20, the picture of the prophet becomes readily apparent. (See Woman Wisdom as Prophet, Teacher, PriestA priest is a person who has the authority to perform religious rites. In New Testament times priests were responsible for daily offerings and sacrifices in the temple., Master Worker, Child of God, and Order of the Universe in Bible in the World.) The public nature of Wisdom’s words is equally important. The text here might indicate an actual practice where women are portrayed as street teachers or preachers. The Bible tells us that women also were “wisdom teachers” (e.g., 2 Samuel 14:1ff; 20:16ff).
