Proverbs 8:3

8:1-11 The will of God is made known by the works of creation, and by the consciences of men, but more clearly by Moses and the prophets. The chief difficulty is to get men to attend to instruction. Yet attention to the words of Christ, will guide the most ignorant into saving knowledge of the truth. Where there is an understanding heart, and willingness to receive the truth in love, wisdom is valued above silver and gold.

She crieth at the gates,.... Of the temple, or of the city, where the courts of judicature were, and persons met on civil accounts; and where people were continually passing and repassing; at the entry of the city; meeting those that came out of the country to the city upon trade and business; at the coming in at the doors; of the temple, or city, or private houses; all these expressions denote the publicness of the Gospel ministry, both by Christ himself, who spake openly to the world, always taught in the synagogues and temple, and in secret said nothing; and who ordered his disciples to preach what they heard and received from him upon the house tops, John 18:20; so did the Apostle Paul, Acts 20:20.

CHAPTER 8 Pr 8:1-36. Contrasted with sensual allurements are the advantages of divine wisdom, which publicly invites men, offers the best principles of life, and the most valuable benefits resulting from receiving her counsels. Her relation to the divine plans and acts is introduced, as in Pr 3:19, 20, though more fully, to commend her desirableness for men, and the whole is closed by an assurance that those finding her find God's favor, and those neglecting ruin themselves. Many regard the passage as a description of the Son of God by the title, Wisdom, which the older Jews used (and by which He is called in Lu 11:49), as Joh 1:1, &c., describes Him by that of Logos, the Word.

But the passage may be taken as a personification of wisdom: for, (1) Though described as with God, wisdom is not asserted to be God. (2) The use of personal attributes is equally consistent with a personification, as with the description of a real person. (3) The personal pronouns used accord with the gender (feminine) of wisdom constantly, and are never changed to that of the person meant, as sometimes occurs in a corresponding use of spirit, which is neuter in Greek, but to which masculine pronouns are often applied (Joh 16:14), when the acts of the Holy Spirit are described. (4) Such a personification is agreeable to the style of this book (compare Pr 1:20; 3:16, 17; 4:8; 6:20-22; 9:1-4), whereas no prophetical or other allusions to the Saviour or the new dispensation are found among the quotations of this book in the New Testament, and unless this be such, none exist. (5) Nothing is lost as to the importance of this passage, which still remains a most ornate and also solemn and impressive teaching of inspiration on the value of wisdom. 1-4. The publicity and universality of the call contrast with the secrecy and intrigues of the wicked (Pr 7:8, &c.).

Verse 3. - The expressions in the text indicate the position which she takes and its capabilities. At the hand of the gates ( 1 Samuel 19:3 ). She posts herself at the side of the city gates, under the archway pierced in the wall, where she is sure of an audience. At the mouth of the city, inside the gate, where people pass on their way to the country. At the coming in at the doors, by which persons enter the town. Thus she catches all comers, those who are entering, as well as those who are leaving the city. Here standing, as in the Agora or Forum, she crieth; she calls aloud, saying what follows (vers. 4-36). It is a fine picture of the comprehensiveness of the gospel, which is meant for high and low, prince and peasant; which is proclaimed everywhere, in the courts of kings, in the lanes of the country, in the hovels of the city; which sets forth the infinite love of God, who is not willing that any should perish, but would have all men come to the knowledge of the truth ( 2 Peter 3:9 ). Septuagint, "By the gates of the mighty she sits, in the entrances she sings aloud ( ὑμνεῖται )." Proverbs 8:3

In this verse Bertheau finds, not inappropriately, the designations of place: on this side, on that side, and within the gate. ליד, at the hand, is equivalent to at the side, as Psalm 140:6 . לפי, of the town, is the same as לפּתח, Proverbs 9:14 , of the house: at the mouth, i.e., at the entrance of the city, thus where they go out and in. There are several of these ways for leaving and entering a city, and on this account מבּוא פתחים are connected: generally where one goes out and in through one of the gates (doors). מבוא, fully represented by the French avenue, the space or way which leads to anything (Fl.). There she raises her voice, which sounds out far and wide; vid., concerning תּרנּה (Graec. Venet. incorrectly, after Rashi, ἀλαλάξουσι), at Proverbs 1:20 .

[Bible] 7:20. He took with him a bag of money: he will return home the day of the full moon. 7:21. She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips. 7:22. Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds, 7:23. Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger. 7:24. Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth. 7:25. Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths. 7:26. For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her. 7:27. Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death. Proverbs Chapter 8 The preaching of wisdom. Her excellence. 8:1. Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice? 8:2. Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths, 8:3. Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying: 8:4. O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. 8:5. O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice. 8:6. Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things. 8:7. My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness. 8:8. All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in them. 8:9. They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge. 8:10. Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold. 8:11. For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it. 8:12. I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts. 8:13. The fear of the Lord hateth evil; I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue. 8:14. Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.

[Reformed Biblical] CHAP. II. 1-6. 13 But to close with the sunshine of promise--Art thou, Reader, like God's own child, hearkening unto him? Then art thou under his cover, where no evil can reach thee; dwelling not only safely, but assured of safety; quiet even from fear of evil (Chap. iii. 21—26. Job, v. 21. Ps. xci. 5; cxii. 6, 7. Isa. xxxii. 17—19); as Noah in the ark, in con- scious security, while the world were perishing around him (Gen. vii. 11-16); as David, fearless in imminent danger, because realizing a refuge in God. (Ps. iii. Comp. 1 Sam. xxx. 6.) Yes — even the coming day of distress and anguish brings with it no fear of evil. (Contrasting verses 26, 27. Luke, xxi. 26. Rev. vi. 16-18.) "The day will burn like an oven." Thou shalt behold the world on fire, and feel thou hast lost, thou canst lose, nothing. The "day of darkness and gloominess" will be to thee a day of unclouded sunshine, the entrance into everlasting joy. (Mal. iv. 1, 2. Luke, xxi. 28. 2 Pet. iii. 10-13.) CHAPTER II. 1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2. So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine, heart to understanding: 3. Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4. If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5. Then shalt thou under- stand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. 6. For the Lord giveth wisdom a out of his mouth cometh knowledge and under- standing. Wisdom, having solemnly warned rebellious scorners, now instructs her dutiful children