Proverbs 8:24 kjv

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Proverbs 8:24 nkjv

When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.

Proverbs 8:24 niv

When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water;

Proverbs 8:24 esv

When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

Proverbs 8:24 nlt

I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.

Proverbs 8 verses

Proverbs 8 24 Meaning

Proverbs 8:24 depicts Lady Wisdom proclaiming her eternal existence before the physical world was structured and filled. She was "brought forth" or "birthed" into being even before the deep, formless waters, and abundant springs, highlighting her pre-creation presence and essential role in God's creative order. This emphasizes that she is not a created thing, but rather intrinsic to God's nature and intimately involved in His initial design.

Proverbs 8 24 Context

Proverbs chapter 8 presents a powerful and extended personification of Wisdom. Starting from verse 1, Lady Wisdom calls out to humanity, urging them to heed her instruction, which offers incredible benefits like true riches, honor, righteousness, and enduring wealth (v. 12-21). Verses 22-31 then shift to Wisdom's eternal origin and her integral presence during creation. Proverbs 8:24 fits within this larger "Wisdom's autobiography" section (v. 22-31), asserting her pre-existence even before the foundational elements of the physical cosmos were laid out. This entire discourse highlights that true wisdom is not merely practical skill, but a divine attribute woven into the very fabric of existence and creation, available to those who seek it. Historically, this account stood in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern myths which often depicted creation as arising from chaotic primordial waters or the struggles of various deities. Proverbs asserts that Wisdom was present and orderly even before any semblance of those chaotic "depths."

Proverbs 8 24 Word analysis

• When there were no depths (באין תהומות - b'en tehomoth):
  • b'en: Literally "in nothingness of," "without the existence of." This prepositional phrase emphasizes a complete absence, underscoring the timing: Wisdom existed prior to these formations.
  • tehomoth: Plural of tehom, meaning "depths," "abysses," or "primordial deep." This word often refers to the deep, unorganized waters mentioned in Gen 1:2, embodying the chaotic state before divine ordering. Wisdom's existence before tehomoth underscores God's prior ordering principle.
• I was brought forth (חוללתי - cholalti):
  • From the root ḥwl (חול), meaning "to be in labor," "to give birth," "to bring forth," "to travail." The verb is in the Niphal stem (passive) or Polal stem (intensive passive/reflexive), signifying "I was birthed" or "I was brought forth."
  • Theological significance is paramount here. This term does not necessarily mean "created" in the sense of ex nihilo formation, but rather "begotten" or "issued forth." It conveys an eternal procession or generation from God, not an external act of creation in time that would make Wisdom a creature like any other. In Christian theology, this verb has been deeply considered in relation to the begetting of the Son (Jesus Christ) by the Father, emphasizing His eternal origin distinct from created beings.
• When there were no fountains abounding with water (באין מעינות נכבדי מים - b'en ma'yanot nichbedei mayim):
  • b'en: Reiterates "without the existence of," emphasizing pre-existence.
  • ma'yanot: "fountains," "springs." These are sources of living water.
  • nichbedei mayim: Literally "heavy waters," implying deep, powerful, weighty, or great waters. Not just small pools, but substantial sources of water. This further defines the primeval hydrological elements whose formation came after Wisdom's "birthing."

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When there were no depths": This phrase directly negates the existence of the primal, formless deep at the moment of Wisdom's emergence. It emphasizes a period before the Genesis 1:2 state, establishing Wisdom as co-eternal with God's plans for order. It positions Wisdom as fundamental to order, not an emergent property from chaos.
• "When there were no fountains abounding with water": This extends the concept of pre-existence to all substantial water sources, whether surface or subterranean. Water, often a symbol of life or even chaotic power in ancient thought, is explicitly stated to have been non-existent when Wisdom was already "brought forth." This solidifies Wisdom's foundational presence over the basic elements of the physical world.

Proverbs 8 24 Bonus section

The Hebrew verb cholal (from which cholalti comes) is connected in some lexical studies to the concept of piercing or inflicting. While "birthed" or "brought forth" is the dominant interpretation, some minor rabbinic interpretations or scholarly notes occasionally touch on this alternative nuance in relation to pain or formation. However, in this specific context and in the Christian tradition, "brought forth" or "begotten" in a sense of eternal generation/emanation, rather than creation in time, is overwhelmingly affirmed. This concept strongly differentiates biblical cosmology from those ancient myths where divine entities emerged from chaotic matter, stressing instead the pre-eminent and purposeful role of God's wisdom.

Proverbs 8 24 Commentary

Proverbs 8:24 powerfully communicates the profound and eternal nature of divine Wisdom. Wisdom's claim to pre-existence, being "brought forth" before even the most foundational elements of the cosmos—the primordial deep and mighty springs—underscores her essential and non-contingent status. This isn't merely a poetic device but a theological declaration: God's wisdom is not an afterthought, nor is it subject to creation's boundaries. It existed as an inherent aspect of the divine being, serving as the blueprint and active agent for all subsequent creation. This verse, along with others in Proverbs 8, laid crucial groundwork for New Testament understanding of Jesus Christ as the pre-existent Logos, God's divine Wisdom incarnate, through whom all things were made (Jn 1:1-3, Col 1:16). He is the eternal, not a creature, but begotten and brought forth from God Himself, the ultimate embodiment of divine order, plan, and redemption. Understanding this verse enriches our appreciation for the intentionality and wisdom inherent in God's creative act and His eternal plan for humanity, centralized in Christ.