Proverbs 8:1 kjv
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Proverbs 8:1 nkjv
Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?
Proverbs 8:1 niv
Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
Proverbs 8:1 esv
Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?
Proverbs 8:1 nlt
Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
Proverbs 8 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:20 | Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice... | Wisdom's public call |
| Prov 9:3 | She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places of the town. | Wisdom's proactive invitation |
| Prov 2:6 | For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | Source of true wisdom |
| Prov 3:13 | Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding. | Wisdom as a blessing |
| Prov 7:10-12 | ...A woman...loud and defiant...lurks... | Contrast with Folly's disruptive behavior |
| Ps 19:1-4 | The heavens declare the glory of God...there is no speech nor language...their voice goes out. | Creation proclaiming God's wisdom |
| Isa 55:1 | "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters..." | Open invitation to divine provision |
| Jer 29:13 | You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. | Finding truth through seeking |
| Matt 11:28 | "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." | Jesus' open invitation (as Wisdom personified) |
| Lk 11:49 | "Therefore also the Wisdom of God said..." | Christ explicitly identified as Wisdom |
| Jn 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | Jesus as the pre-existent Logos/Wisdom |
| Jn 1:9 | The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. | Light/Wisdom openly available to all |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said... "I am the way, and the truth, and the life..." | Jesus embodies wisdom and truth |
| Acts 2:14 | But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice... | Public proclamation of God's message |
| Rom 10:18 | "...Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." | Universal proclamation of the Gospel |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | ...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. | Jesus is God's incarnate Wisdom |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom... | Christ as the believer's wisdom |
| Col 2:3 | In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Wisdom's treasures found in Christ |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God... | Access to divine wisdom through prayer |
| Jas 3:17 | But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable... | Nature of godly wisdom |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, God spoke to our fathers...in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | God's revelation through Christ |
Proverbs 8 verses
Proverbs 8 1 Meaning
Proverbs 8:1 initiates a profound discourse by personifying Wisdom as a proactive entity that loudly and publicly seeks attention. It asks rhetorical questions, "Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?", implying an emphatic "Yes!" Wisdom is not passive or hidden; she actively proclaims her message of life and righteousness to all who will hear, in contrast to the secretive lures of Folly.
Proverbs 8 1 Context
Proverbs 8:1 opens Wisdom's great self-praise and instruction. It immediately follows chapter 7, which vividly depicts the seductive and destructive nature of Folly personified as the adulteress. Chapter 8 serves as a deliberate and powerful counterpoint, presenting Wisdom not as a temptress hidden in the shadows but as an authoritative figure boldly addressing humanity in public places. This literary juxtaposition emphasizes the clear choice presented throughout Proverbs: follow the path of wisdom, leading to life, or the path of folly, leading to death. Historically, the city gates and squares were centers of public life, commerce, and legal proceedings. Wisdom's call in such locations signifies her accessibility, relevance to daily life, and the open nature of divine truth, standing in direct contrast to any secret or esoteric knowledge.
Proverbs 8 1 Word analysis
- Does not (הֲלֹא - halo): This is a rhetorical interrogative particle, translating as "Is it not...?" or "Surely...?" It does not seek information but demands an affirmative answer, emphasizing that Wisdom's call is obvious and undeniable. It functions as an emphatic assertion.
- wisdom (חָכְמָה - chokhmah): The Hebrew term chokhmah denotes practical skill, spiritual insight, and moral discernment. It refers not merely to intellectual acumen but to the ability to live skillfully and rightly according to God's ways. In Proverbs, it is frequently personified, often with feminine qualities, representing a divine attribute that guides humanity to life.
- call out (תִקְרָא - tiqra): Derived from the verb qara, meaning "to call," "to proclaim," or "to summon." This word implies an audible, public, and persistent invitation. It is not a whisper or a secret beckoning, but an open declaration accessible to anyone in earshot.
- Does not (הֲלֹא - halo): Reiterates the rhetorical affirmation from the beginning, underscoring the unmistakable nature of Wisdom's public proclamation.
- understanding (תְבוּנָה - tevunah): This Hebrew term refers to discernment, insight, and intelligence. It's closely linked with chokhmah and often appears alongside it. While chokhmah might be the knowledge, tevunah is the ability to grasp the inner meaning and apply that knowledge appropriately.
- raise her voice (תִּתֵּן קוֹלָהּ - titten qolah): Literally "she gives her voice." This idiom reinforces the idea of loud, public, and deliberate speech. It emphasizes the active, assertive nature of Wisdom's proclamation, ensuring her message is heard clearly in the bustling places of society.
Proverbs 8 1 Bonus section
The personification of Wisdom throughout Proverbs 8 is a significant theological and literary device. This personified Wisdom, though not exclusively identified with any particular figure in the Old Testament, finds its ultimate and full expression in the person of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The deliberate contrast with Folly emphasizes the stark and public choice humanity faces: embrace God's revealed wisdom leading to life, or reject it for self-serving folly leading to destruction. The locations mentioned in subsequent verses (gates, squares) are not merely geographical markers but symbolize places of societal importance, justice, and common interaction, affirming that Wisdom's principles are applicable and essential for all aspects of public and private life.
Proverbs 8 1 Commentary
Proverbs 8:1 serves as a vibrant invitation to encounter divine Wisdom. Unlike the seductive and hidden methods of Folly depicted in earlier chapters, Wisdom is presented as forthright, audible, and accessible. She does not lurk in shadows but stands prominently in the thoroughfares of life—the very places where people gather, make decisions, and conduct their affairs. This verse sets the stage for Wisdom's expansive address in the rest of the chapter, highlighting her universal availability and active desire to impart truth. It speaks to the idea that God's truth, embodied in Christ, is openly revealed to humanity and can be found by all who truly seek it, rather than being confined to an elite few or a secret cult.