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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
8:1-36 Second Wisdom Appeal. This section begins with a personification of wisdom as a woman calling out in the streets (vv. 1-3), followed by the very words of her appeal (vv. 4-36). Her discourse consists of five main sections: an address (vv. 4-5), a call to listen to her instruction and the grounds for doing so (vv. 6-11), a description of her righteous character and purposes (vv. 12-21), a description of her divine origin and use (vv. 22-31), and a concluding appeal that again addresses the "sons" and thus evokes all the preceding paternal appeals as integral to her instruction (vv. 32-36). As in 1:20-33, Wisdom is personified as a great lady, which helps illustrate the central message of Proverbs: the origin, existence, and purpose of true wisdom are properly framed in relationship with the covenant Lord, who is also the Maker of heaven and earth. As a result, the realm of wisdom encompasses every aspect of life in every corner of creation.
8:5 simple . . . fools. For these terms see Introduction: Character Types in Proverbs. Though they have not embraced the covenant, they are still invited to do so.
8:6-9 Wisdom describes the righteous character of her speech (noble things, right, righteous, nothing twisted or crooked) in contrast to the speech of the forbidden woman (cf. 2:16; 5:3; 6:24; 7:5) and of those who use their words for wicked purposes (e.g., the one who sows discord among others, 6:12, 19). In proclaiming the upright character of her speech, Wisdom also indicates that the ability to recognize it as such requires a heart that has embraced wisdom (8:9, They are all straight to him who understands).
8:13 One of the main purposes of the fear of the Lord in Proverbs is to align a person's heart with what the Lord loves. Describing what wisdom hates (and therefore what the Lord hates) calls a person to examine his or her heart, to guard it from such things, to walk in accord with what the Lord loves, and to seek wisdom for all relationships and interactions (cf. the similar function of 6:12-19). Whether a person's heart and path are aligned with wisdom is a recurring theme of this chapter (see 8:17, 21, 36).
8:14-16 What wisdom offers to the simple is the same insight used by kings and rulers when they govern nations justly.
8:17 I love those who love me reinforces the calls to seek wisdom (e.g., 2:1-4; 4:5, 7), for she will show favor and then grant multiplied benefits. Those who seek me diligently find me reinforces the promise that the Lord will give wisdom (e.g., 2:5-11; James 1:5) and its benefits (see Prov. 8:18-21, 35).
8:18-21 Riches and honor come with wisdom (this often happens when a society is functioning justly), but also something even greater: an unspecified kind of enduring wealth and righteousness (v. 18), a fruit that is better than gold and silver (v. 19), and an abundant inheritance (v. 21). While this description would include any material blessings that come to those who seek wisdom, these things cannot compare to the greater value of what is promised here: life and favor from the Lord (see v. 35).
8:22-31 the first of his acts of old (v. 22). The same wisdom that makes this invitation is the wisdom that was present with God when he created the world and established it as a coherent system, for Wisdom (personified) says, I was daily his delight (v. 30; cf. also 3:19-20). The wisdom that enters the lives of the faithful actually enables them to participate in the rationality at the heart of things. This is why the impious are called "foolish" or even "stupid" (12:1); they are self-haters (cf. 8:36). On the question of whether the personification of Wisdom here goes beyond personification and describes an actual person, see Introduction: Personified Wisdom and Christ.
8:32-36 By using the address O sons, this section not only concludes Wisdom's appeal in vv. 1-31, but also draws together all of the paternal appeals as sharing her overall purpose: to extol the benefits of wisdom for faithful covenant living. The reasons given for heeding Wisdom's call also extend to those given in the preceding appeals: you will be blessed (see 3:13, 18), find life (see 2:21), and obtain favor from the Lord (see 3:4, 32-33). The final statement that all who hate me love death presents previous warnings (see 1:19, 32; 2:22; 3:33a; 5:22-23) in stark terms: those who practice what wisdom hates (see 8:13) show by their affections that they are on the way that leads not to life and favor (v. 35) but to injury and death.
