Proverbs 8:1-21 – Woman Wisdom’s Call

BIBLE TEXT

Proverbs 8:1-21

SUMMARY

Woman Wisdom calls to the people in the first person, enjoining everyone to follow her and describing her many attributes.

ANALYSIS

Chapter 8 is the central chapter describing Woman Wisdom. (See “Woman Wisdom as Prophet, Teacher, Priest, Master Worker, Child of God, and Order of the Universe” entry in Bible in the World – Proverbs.) This chapter begins with Wisdom again, like a prophet, calling from public places including the central dividing spaces such as the gate (see Proverbs 1:20-33). In verse 7 the opposite of “truth” is significantly “wickedness” rather than falsehood. In verse 13, a right relationship to God is again described as “the fear of the LORD” (see Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). In vv. 15-16 she declares that she functions at a social level as well as a personal level:
    By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
    By me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly.

And once again in vv. 19-21, she declares her fruit to be better than riches (see Proverbs 3:16).