Proverbs 8:14 kjv
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Proverbs 8:14 nkjv
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
Proverbs 8:14 niv
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
Proverbs 8:14 esv
I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.
Proverbs 8:14 nlt
Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
Proverbs 8 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 12:13 | “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.” | God possesses all attributes of Wisdom. |
| Prov 11:14 | “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in abundance of counselors there is safety.” | Importance of good counsel for society. |
| Prov 12:15 | “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” | Wisdom characterized by receptiveness to counsel. |
| Prov 15:22 | “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” | Counsel's role in successful plans. |
| Prov 20:18 | “Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.” | Strategic counsel in planning. |
| Isa 9:6 | “For to us a child is born...and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor...” | Christ as the ultimate source of divine counsel. |
| Isa 11:2 | “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might...” | The Spirit grants these attributes. |
| Isa 28:29 | “This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in sound wisdom.” | God as the origin of all wisdom and counsel. |
| Jer 32:19 | “great in counsel and mighty in deed.” | God's divine counsel and power. |
| Rom 11:34 | “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” | God's inscrutable and perfect counsel. |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” | Christ personifies divine power and wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God...” | Christ as the source of wisdom for believers. |
| Col 2:3 | “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” | Christ contains all wisdom. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | “The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing... The counsel of the LORD stands forever.” | God's counsel prevails over human plans. |
| Ps 104:24 | “O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all.” | Wisdom active in creation and order. |
| Dan 2:20-22 | “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.” | God is the source of all wisdom and strength. |
| 1 Ki 3:9-12 | Solomon's prayer for an understanding mind to govern God's people. | Wisdom is essential for just rule. |
| Prov 3:21 | “My son, do not lose sight of these – keep sound wisdom and discretion...” | Exhortation to embrace practical wisdom. |
| Prov 24:5 | “A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases strength.” | Wisdom's direct link to strength. |
| Eccl 7:19 | “Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.” | Wisdom's superior power in governance. |
| Titus 1:7-8 | Overseers must be self-controlled, upright, holy, and able to counsel soundly. | Qualities of spiritual leadership tied to wisdom. |
| Acts 20:27 | “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” | Apostolic declaration of God's full redemptive plan. |
Proverbs 8 verses
Proverbs 8 14 Meaning
From Wisdom comes true counsel and effective strategy. She provides intrinsic strength and enables discerning understanding, all essential for righteous and effective leadership. These attributes reside with Wisdom and are dispensed by her.
Proverbs 8 14 Context
Proverbs chapter 8 presents a powerful and extended personification of Wisdom (חָכְמָה, chochmah), who actively proclaims her value and accessibility. Unlike the alluring and destructive ways of Folly (depicted in chapter 7 and 9), Wisdom calls openly in public places, offering life, riches, and honor. This particular verse (8:14) occurs within a section (8:12-16) where Wisdom explicitly details her attributes and their direct benefits, particularly for rulers and those in authority. She emphasizes that through her, justice is upheld and governance is rightly established. Historically, this aligns with the ancient Near Eastern understanding that a just and stable kingdom was dependent on a king's wise discernment and equitable rule, often viewed as divinely ordained. This discourse subtly contrasts with the arbitrary or oppressive rule stemming from human foolishness or corrupt counsel, asserting that true, effective leadership stems solely from embracing Wisdom's ways.
Proverbs 8 14 Word analysis
- Counsel (עֵצָה,
etzah): This Hebrew word refers to advice, plans, or strategies. In the context of divine or true wisdom, it implies perfectly conceived and executable plans, sound judgment, and definitive purpose. It denotes deep deliberation and effective direction, crucial for both individual action and governance. Biblically,etzahis often linked to God's own unwavering, eternal purpose (e.g., Ps 33:11, Isa 46:10). - Sound wisdom (תּוּשִׁיָּה,
tushiyah): This term signifies effectiveness, real accomplishment, and enduring success. It's more than just theoretical knowledge; it embodies the ability to cope, practical sagacity, and concrete, lasting results. It denotes a substantive and beneficial outcome that derives from wisdom. Scholars link it to the idea of solid understanding leading to true substance or entity, contrasting with what is superficial or illusory. - Are mine (לִי,
li): This simple Hebrew preposition indicates possession and ownership. Wisdom declares that these essential qualities (counsel and sound wisdom) are inherent to her very being and are therefore exclusively her prerogative to bestow. - I am understanding (אֲנִי בִּינָה,
ani binah): Here, Wisdom declares her very essence to be understanding.Binah(בִּינָה) refers to deep discernment, insight, and the ability to distinguish and comprehend complex matters. It's the capacity to perceive the relationships between things, to grasp the implications of information, and to judge effectively, crucial for just application of power. - Might is mine (גְּבוּרָה לִי,
gevurah li):Gevurah(גְּבוּרָה) denotes strength, power, or might, encompassing moral fortitude, physical capability, and authoritative power. When coupled with wisdom, it signifies power wielded righteously and effectively, for order and justice. This emphasizes that true strength for leadership flows from and is controlled by Wisdom, not from brute force or human ambition alone. - Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Counsel and sound wisdom are mine": This pairing emphasizes that Wisdom offers not just advice (
etzah) but advice that actually works and yields enduring positive results (tushiyah). It's about practical, effective strategy stemming from deep insight, providing stability and success. - "I am understanding, might is mine": This declaration highlights Wisdom's intrinsic nature. She is the source of
binah(discernment, insight), which allows for proper judgment. This insight then empowersgevurah(strength or might), ensuring that power is used discerningly and justly. It’s not just having strength, but having the understanding to use that strength wisely and effectively, for purposes of order and justice. These two pairings describe the comprehensive intellectual and active capacity of Wisdom, showing her as the foundation for effective and righteous dominion.
- "Counsel and sound wisdom are mine": This pairing emphasizes that Wisdom offers not just advice (
Proverbs 8 14 Bonus section
The qualities ascribed to Wisdom in Prov 8:14—counsel, sound wisdom, understanding, and might—are elsewhere in Scripture directly attributed to God Himself or to the Messiah. This points to the divine character inherent in Wisdom as she is portrayed here, foreshadowing Christ. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as the very embodiment of God's wisdom and power (1 Cor 1:24, 30; Col 2:3). Therefore, this verse is not only a practical guide for governance but also has profound theological implications, suggesting that true authority and the capacity for wise, effective leadership ultimately derive from the divine nature perfectly manifested in Christ. Accessing these attributes requires aligning with His wisdom.
Proverbs 8 14 Commentary
Proverbs 8:14 reveals the core attributes that characterize true Wisdom, presented here as an active, personified entity. Wisdom is the fount of sound strategy (etzah), not mere suggestion, but deeply reasoned plans that are purposeful and beneficial. This counsel is intertwined with tushiyah, which is "sound wisdom" or "effective success"—the capacity to transform plans into enduring, tangible achievements. It is the practical manifestation of wisdom. Furthermore, Wisdom identifies herself as binah (understanding or discernment), signifying her essential nature as the ability to grasp, perceive, and distinguish truth from falsehood, or good from evil. This insight is what empowers gevurah (might or strength) to be wielded constructively. True authority and effective power, whether in leadership, personal integrity, or governance, do not originate in human might alone but flow from this divine, discerning wisdom. For those in authority, it means that just rule, strategic planning, and true effectiveness are all contingent upon aligning with and embracing Wisdom, which alone provides the discerning insight and inherent power to lead rightly and establish order.