Proverbs 8:8 kjv

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

Proverbs 8:8 nkjv

All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

Proverbs 8:8 niv

All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.

Proverbs 8:8 esv

All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

Proverbs 8:8 nlt

My advice is wholesome.
There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

Proverbs 8 verses

Proverbs 8 8 Meaning

Proverbs 8:8 declares that the words emanating from Wisdom's mouth are entirely founded on righteousness. This means they are inherently just, morally upright, clear, and perfectly aligned with truth. There is no trace of distortion, deceit, or perversion in them. Wisdom's speech is entirely trustworthy and straightforward, reflecting her pure and divine nature.

Proverbs 8 8 Context

Proverbs chapter 8 is a profound exposition on the personification of Wisdom. From verse 1, Wisdom publicly calls out, appealing to all humanity, particularly the simple and foolish, to heed her instruction. She distinguishes her voice and counsel from the allure of folly, often personified as the "adulterous woman" in chapters 7 and 9. The preceding verses (8:6-7) emphasize that Wisdom's words are noble, right, true, and an abomination to wickedness. Proverbs 8:8 reinforces this absolute purity and straightforwardness of Wisdom's communication. Historically, this aligns with the didactic purpose of the Proverbs, offering guidance based on divine truth for daily living, countering prevalent forms of deception, moral relativism, and false counsel that existed in ancient Near Eastern societies, where sorcery, idolatry, and corrupt justice were common. Wisdom's upright speech implicitly critiques all forms of twisted communication and unethical pronouncements from human rulers, false prophets, or charlatans.

Proverbs 8 8 Word analysis

• All (כֻּלָּם, kul·lām): Signifies completeness and totality. Every single utterance, without exception. This emphasizes absolute purity and comprehensive coverage.

• the words (אִמְרֵי, 'imrê): From the root אָמַר ('amar), "to say, speak." Refers to utterances, speeches, or authoritative pronouncements. It implies that these are not mere opinions but declarations of truth.

• of my mouth (פִּי, pî): Lit. "my mouth." This highlights the direct and unmediated source of these words, establishing their inherent trustworthiness as they proceed directly from Wisdom herself.

• are in righteousness (בְצֶדֶק, be·tzedeq):

  • בְ (be): "in, with, by means of." This preposition indicates the foundation, characteristic, or standard upon which the words exist.
  • צֶדֶק (tzedeq): "righteousness, justice, uprightness, equity." This is a fundamental biblical concept describing conformity to a moral or legal standard, specifically God's character and will. Here, it means Wisdom's words are morally upright, perfectly just, and aligned with divine truth. They embody what is inherently right and fair.

• nothing (אֵין, 'ên): "there is not, nothing." A strong negation, emphasizing absolute absence.

• crooked (עִקֵּשׁ, 'iqqêsh): "twisted, perverse, crooked, distorted." Often describes moral perversity, deviation from what is straight or true. It implies duplicity, insincerity, or unfairness in speech, suggesting an intentional bending of truth.

• or perverse (תַּהְפֻּכָה, tahpukha): "perversion, distorted thing, something contrary to truth/morality." From the root הָפַךְ (hāphakh), "to overturn, transform." It speaks of what is completely distorted or contrary to what it should be. This word often refers to a perverse utterance or a statement that actively subverts truth and morality, making it contrary to sound doctrine.

• is in them (בָּהֶם, bāhem): "in them." This direct reference back to "the words of my mouth" explicitly confirms that these negative qualities of being crooked or perverse are entirely absent from Wisdom's pronouncements.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "All the words of my mouth are in righteousness": This phrase asserts the absolute purity and moral rectitude of Wisdom's utterances. They are entirely grounded in what is just and right, acting as a foundation and inherent characteristic. This contrasts sharply with human speech, which is often tainted by sin and error, establishing Wisdom's divine reliability.
  • "nothing crooked or perverse is in them": This parallel negating statement confirms and amplifies the first part. "Crooked" refers to speech that is devious, deceptive, or misleading, veering from a straight path. "Perverse" speaks of words that actively distort truth or are fundamentally contrary to moral rectitude, implying a total reversal of what is good and right. The emphatic double negation reinforces the total absence of any impurity, misdirection, or corruption in Wisdom's communication, assuring her words are completely reliable, straightforward, and without deceit. This is an antithetical parallelism highlighting the absence of negative qualities by emphasizing the presence of positive ones (righteousness).

Proverbs 8 8 Bonus section

The perfect integrity of Wisdom's speech serves as a benchmark against which all human communication should be measured, especially for those who claim to speak on behalf of God or teach others. It implies that true wisdom will always lead to clarity, justice, and moral uprightness, never to confusion, injustice, or moral decay. This verse also lays foundational theological groundwork, as the attributes of Wisdom – particularly her truthfulness and righteousness – mirror those of God Himself, who is fundamentally righteous and whose word is truth (Deut 32:4, Ps 33:4, Ps 119:140, Isa 45:19). This close identification of Wisdom with God's very nature and character further solidifies the authority and trustworthiness of her message throughout the book of Proverbs, affirming her divine source.

Proverbs 8 8 Commentary

Proverbs 8:8 stands as a testament to the absolute integrity and divine authority of Wisdom's speech. Unlike human discourse, often fraught with ambiguity, deceit, or self-interest, Wisdom's words are presented as perfectly straight and true. They are founded upon and embody tzedeq, a term that encapsulates justice, uprightness, and adherence to divine standards. This implies that Wisdom's counsel is always fair, always correct, and always leads to what is right. The dual negative phrases, "nothing crooked or perverse," emphatically remove any possibility of misdirection, distortion, or moral compromise. "Crooked" refers to something bent or twisted, implying guile or dishonesty. "Perverse" speaks of something fundamentally contrary or overturned from its right state, indicating an active subversion of truth. Together, they signify that Wisdom’s guidance is utterly transparent, devoid of hidden motives, manipulative undertones, or erroneous information. This unblemished nature of Wisdom's communication is critical for the hearers, as it assures them that listening to her will never lead them astray but will always guide them on the path of truth and life. This characteristic also subtly points to the divine character, as only God’s words are perfectly pure and righteous, foreshadowing Christ, who embodies truth itself.