Proverbs 1:1 kjv
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
Proverbs 1:1 nkjv
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
Proverbs 1:1 niv
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
Proverbs 1:1 esv
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
Proverbs 1:1 nlt
These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.
Proverbs 1 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 3:12 | "...I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that there will never be anyone like you..." | God grants Solomon extraordinary wisdom. |
| 1 Ki 4:29 | "...God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure... like the sand..." | Solomon's abundant wisdom from God. |
| 1 Ki 4:32 | "...He spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005." | Specific reference to Solomon's many proverbs. |
| 2 Chron 1:10-12 | Solomon's prayer for wisdom granted by God with riches. | God empowers Solomon with wisdom to rule. |
| Ps 72:1-2 | "...Give the king your justice, O God... May he judge your people with righteousness..." | Prayer for a wise and just king. |
| Isa 9:6 | "...Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." | Messianic king embodies divine wisdom. |
| Isa 11:2 | "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom..." | Messiah's endowment with wisdom. |
| Jer 23:5 | "I will raise up for David a righteous Branch... he shall execute justice..." | Promise of a righteous, wise Davidic king. |
| Job 28:28 | "...Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding." | Ultimate source of true wisdom is God. |
| Ps 111:10 | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who practice it have good understanding." | Connection of fear of God to wisdom (like Prov). |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." | Direct statement of God as wisdom's source. |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously..." | God grants wisdom to those who ask. |
| Jas 3:17 | "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason..." | Characteristics of divine wisdom. |
| Matt 12:42 | "The queen of the South... came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon..." | Recognition of Solomon's global reputation for wisdom. |
| Lk 2:52 | "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." | Jesus as the embodiment of growing wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | "...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." | Christ personified as divine wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | "And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God..." | Christ is the source of wisdom for believers. |
| Col 2:3 | "...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." | All wisdom found in Christ. |
| Deut 4:6 | "...Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples..." | Obedience to God's law as national wisdom. |
| Ps 19:7 | "...The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;" | God's law imparts wisdom. |
| Prov 3:13 | "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding," | The blessings associated with finding wisdom. |
| Prov 8:1-4 | Wisdom personified calling out to humanity. | Wisdom's pervasive call. |
| Eccl 1:1 | "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem." | Another wisdom book with similar royal attribution. |
| Eccl 12:9-10 | "Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge... he weighed, diligently studied, and set in order many proverbs." | Description of a wisdom author's work, applicable to Solomon. |
Proverbs 1 verses
Proverbs 1 1 Meaning
Proverbs 1:1 serves as the authoritative superscription, functioning as the title for the entire book. It identifies the collection of wisdom as originating from or being compiled under the authority of King Solomon, who is explicitly recognized by his full royal and familial designation: "son of David, king of Israel." This immediately grounds the book's profound wisdom in the reign of the Israelite king renowned for his unparalleled, divinely bestowed wisdom, establishing its legitimacy and significance for God's covenant people and beyond.
Proverbs 1 1 Context
Proverbs 1:1 functions as the formal introductory title for the entire Book of Proverbs. Immediately following this verse, the book details its primary purposes (vv. 2-6): to impart wisdom, instruction, understanding, prudence, knowledge, and discretion, especially to the young and simple, while also enriching the wise. The fundamental principle governing all wisdom is then stated in verse 7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Historically, the book of Proverbs originated largely within the united kingdom of Israel, predominantly during or shortly after the reign of Solomon (c. 970-931 BC). This period was a golden age of national prosperity and relative peace, fostering an environment for the collection and articulation of wisdom. The mention of Solomon as "king of Israel" ties the wisdom firmly to the highest office of the covenant people, where wisdom was essential for righteous governance and maintaining national order and fidelity to God. The Israelite wisdom tradition distinguishes itself from other ancient Near Eastern wisdom by fundamentally linking true wisdom to the fear and knowledge of Yahweh, directly contrasting with human-centric wisdom that disregards God.
Proverbs 1 1 Word analysis
- Proverbs (מִשְׁלֵי - Mishlei): This term, the construct plural of mashal, denotes more than mere pithy sayings. It encompasses comparisons, parables, maxims, riddles, allegories, and didactic poems. It suggests a form of authoritative instruction, often in succinct or figurative language, that guides moral and practical conduct. The root can also mean "to rule" or "to be like," implying that these sayings govern life or make clear how one aspect of life is analogous to another.
- of Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה - Shlomo): Identifies the principal human source, collector, or attributed authority of the work. Solomon was uniquely blessed with divine wisdom (1 Ki 3:12; 4:29-31), making him the preeminent figure to impart such knowledge. His name itself, derived from shalom (peace, wholeness), subtly connects to the internal and societal order that true wisdom fosters. His reputation lends immense credibility and weight to the content.
- son (בֶן - ben): Denotes direct lineage, confirming Solomon's position as the rightful heir and descendant. This ties his wisdom to the continuation of the divinely chosen Davidic dynasty, whose kings were expected to rule with justice and wisdom.
- of David (דָּוִד - David): Links Solomon directly to the covenant God made with King David (2 Sam 7:12-16), which established an enduring royal line. This connection imbues Solomon's wisdom with a powerful theological and covenantal significance, suggesting it is part of a larger divine plan for Israel's guidance through righteous kingship.
- king (מֶלֶךְ - Melekh): Emphasizes Solomon's royal office and authority. The wisdom presented is thus not merely theoretical but deeply practical, meant for governance, judicial decisions, and promoting societal well-being. It underscores that God-given wisdom is essential for leadership and national prosperity.
- of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisra'el): Specifies his realm, highlighting that while the wisdom in Proverbs carries universal truths applicable to all, it is particularly rooted in the context of God's covenant people. It addresses the practicalities of living justly and wisely within the specific community called to honor Yahweh.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- The proverbs of Solomon: This phrase serves as the formal title, identifying the genre and primary human authorship. It immediately signals that this collection contains concise, authoritative instructions originating from or attributed to the most famous wise man in Israelite history, elevating the collection's status above mere folk sayings.
- son of David: This phrase provides an essential genealogical link, rooting Solomon's wisdom in the revered Davidic monarchy and the Abrahamic covenant. It implies that the wisdom presented here is not arbitrary but flows from a divinely ordained lineage, granting it an inherited sacred authority and emphasizing a continuity of divine purpose.
- king of Israel: This final designation for Solomon signifies that the wisdom is deeply relevant to the nation's well-being and governance. It means that the insights are not just for private living but also for shaping a society grounded in righteousness and justice under God's appointed leader. This broadens the scope of the "proverbs" to impact every aspect of individual and national life within the covenant.
Proverbs 1 1 Bonus section
This opening verse is critical as it functions as a colophon or superscription, a common literary device in ancient Near Eastern texts to identify the author/compiler and often to state the book's purpose. However, in the context of the Hebrew Bible, it does more: it roots human wisdom firmly within divine blessing and covenantal history. The mention of Solomon implicitly sets the stage for a wisdom that is superior to the "wisdom of the world" by virtue of its sacred origin. This verse serves as a crucial hermeneutical key, guiding the reader to interpret the proverbs as rooted in Yahweh's order and revelation, given through His anointed king, thereby contrasting implicitly with any human wisdom that disregards the divine.
Proverbs 1 1 Commentary
Proverbs 1:1 is more than a simple book title; it is a foundational statement of authority and origin. By identifying "The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel," the verse instantly grounds the wisdom within a revered theological and historical framework. King Solomon was divinely blessed with unparalleled wisdom, a gift explicitly for governing God's people with righteousness (1 Ki 3:12; 4:29-34). This designation emphasizes that the ensuing instructions are not human philosophy but are sanctioned by a king endowed by God, making them authoritative for spiritual, moral, and practical conduct. The specific lineage, "son of David," connects this wisdom to God's enduring covenant with David, lending immense weight and divine sanction to the teachings. Therefore, the verse presents the Book of Proverbs as a divinely approved source of wisdom for right living for all who desire to understand God's way.