Proverbs 8:4 kjv
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
Proverbs 8:4 nkjv
"To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.
Proverbs 8:4 niv
"To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
Proverbs 8:4 esv
"To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.
Proverbs 8:4 nlt
"I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
Proverbs 8 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:20-23 | Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares... | Wisdom's public, persistent call. |
| Prov 9:3-6 | She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town... | Wisdom sends invitations openly. |
| Isa 55:1 | "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters..." | Universal invitation to spiritual refreshment. |
| Matt 11:28 | "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." | Jesus' universal call to rest. |
| Mk 16:15 | Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. | Great Commission, a universal mandate. |
| Acts 17:30 | The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent... | God's command for universal repentance. |
| 1 Tim 2:4 | ...who desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. | God's desire for universal salvation. |
| Rev 22:17 | The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" | Final, open invitation to salvation. |
| Ps 19:1-4 | The heavens declare the glory of God... Their voice goes out into all the earth... | Creation's universal witness. |
| Jer 35:15 | I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Turn now...’ | God's persistent call through prophets. |
| Joel 2:28 | ...I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh... | Spirit's universal outreach. |
| Jn 10:27 | My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. | Hearing the Divine voice. |
| Col 1:15-17 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation... | Christ as pre-existent, embodying Wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | ...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. | Christ as the personification of Wisdom. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities...have been clearly seen... | General revelation to all people. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets...in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | God's progressive and ultimate revelation. |
| Zeph 3:7 | I said, 'Surely you will fear me...so that her dwelling might not be cut off...' | Divine hope for response to correction. |
| Mt 7:24 | "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice..." | Call to hear and obey Divine teaching. |
| Lk 8:21 | My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice. | Defining true relationship through hearing God. |
| Ps 49:1-2 | Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in the world— both low and high... | A call for all humanity to heed instruction. |
| Is 6:8 | And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" | God's seeking for those who will respond. |
Proverbs 8 verses
Proverbs 8 4 Meaning
This verse declares the universal and open invitation from personified Wisdom to all of humanity. It emphasizes that Wisdom's call is not exclusive to a select few or hidden away, but publicly addressed to everyone, distinguishing between general 'men' and all 'sons of man' to underscore its comprehensive reach to all individuals within humankind. Wisdom seeks a hearing from anyone who is willing to listen and accept her teachings.
Proverbs 8 4 Context
Proverbs chapter 8 is a grand poetic monologue by personified Wisdom, building upon her public proclamation in chapter 1. While Proverbs 1 highlights Wisdom's warning against rejecting her, Proverbs 8 establishes her magnificent credentials and the benefits of embracing her. Wisdom speaks as a majestic queen, presenting herself as existing before creation (pre-existent), deeply involved in the act of creation, and central to all order and life. She emphasizes her public accessibility, contrasting with the hidden and deceitful paths of Folly. Verse 4 specifically introduces this universal call to all humanity, setting the stage for Wisdom's profound self-disclosure about her eternal nature, her role in creation, and the life-giving essence of her ways. Historically, this declaration challenges the exclusive, secretive wisdom traditions often associated with cults or Gnostic-like schools of thought in the ancient Near East, proclaiming God's wisdom as openly available to all.
Proverbs 8 4 Word analysis
- "Unto you": Hebrew 'ǎleyḵem (אֲלֵיכֶם), a dative pronoun, signifying direction "to you" or "towards you." It indicates a direct address, personalizing the invitation immediately.
- "O men": Hebrew 'îshîm (אִישִׁים), the plural of 'îsh, referring to individual human beings, distinct male persons, but here used more generally for individuals within humanity. It highlights the direct personal address to each listener.
- "I call": Hebrew 'eqra' (אֶקְרָא), from the root qara' (קָרָא), meaning "to call," "to summon," "to proclaim," or "to read aloud." The prefix indicates "I will call" or "I am calling." This signifies an authoritative, yet inviting, summons, not merely a quiet suggestion. It denotes an active, outward declaration.
- "and my voice": Hebrew vəqôlî (וְקוֹלִי), literally "and my voice." The possessive suffix emphasizes that this is her specific voice, unique and identifiable. "Voice" (qôl) often carries connotations of authority, instruction, or even thunder/power when associated with God in the Old Testament.
- "is to": Hebrew 'el (אֶל), a preposition indicating motion toward or relation to. It reinforces the directionality of the address.
- "the sons of man": Hebrew bənê 'āḏām (בְּנֵי אָדָם), literally "sons of Adam" or "sons of humanity." This phrase is a common biblical idiom referring to all human beings without distinction of gender, race, or social status. It is a universalizing term, embracing every individual from Adam's lineage.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Unto you, O men": This phrase establishes the specific target: individual persons. It implies a direct and personal appeal from Wisdom, making it clear that the message is meant for sentient beings capable of response. It's a foundational address, laying the groundwork for the more expansive address that follows.
- "I call; and my voice is to": These parallel phrases demonstrate Wisdom's dual approach. "I call" highlights the act of summoning, an imperative or persuasive action. "My voice is to" emphasizes the source and the nature of the communication, identifying it as an authoritative declaration from Wisdom herself. The conjunction "and" links these two expressions of her outreach, showing they are complementary aspects of the same persistent, universal summons.
- "the sons of man": This second phrase is an all-encompassing term for humanity. Following "O men," which can be understood as addressing individuals, "the sons of man" broadens the scope to include all of humankind. This parallelism ensures that no one is excluded from Wisdom's open invitation. It stresses the universal accessibility of Wisdom, countering any notion of hidden or elitist knowledge.
Proverbs 8 4 Bonus section
The active and public "calling" of Wisdom (represented by qara') stands in stark contrast to the often insidious and secretive enticements of Folly mentioned elsewhere in Proverbs (e.g., Prov 7). Wisdom operates in the open, by light; Folly operates by darkness and hidden snares. This universal invitation in Proverbs 8:4 prepares the reader for Wisdom's presentation as not merely a concept, but a vibrant, pre-existent agent with a divine essence. Early Christian theologians saw significant parallels between personified Wisdom in Proverbs 8 and Jesus Christ, who is described as the "power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1:24) and through whom all things were created (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16). Thus, Proverbs 8:4 can be seen as foreshadowing Christ's public invitation to all humanity to come and find life through Him, embodying the very wisdom being offered.
Proverbs 8 4 Commentary
Proverbs 8:4 acts as the prelude to Lady Wisdom's most profound self-revelation. It boldly states that her message is not whispered in secret conclaves or restricted to a privileged few; rather, it is publicly broadcast to every single human being. This universal call demonstrates Wisdom's accessible nature, urging all to heed her guidance. Her persistent proclamation across different expressions ("O men" and "sons of man") underscores an expansive inclusivity, affirming that her truth, though originating from God, is offered without discrimination. This initial declaration of universal accessibility sets the stage for Wisdom's subsequent revelation of her divine origins and her foundational role in creation, providing the context for understanding why her counsel is not only available but also essential for true life and prosperity. This open invitation to wisdom is mirrored in the New Testament by the universal call of the Gospel of Christ, who is explicitly identified as the Wisdom of God, extending an open invitation to all who would listen and obey.