Proverbs 9:1 kjv
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Proverbs 9:1 nkjv
Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;
Proverbs 9:1 niv
Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars.
Proverbs 9:1 esv
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.
Proverbs 9:1 nlt
Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
Proverbs 9 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short note) |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:20 | Wisdom calls aloud in the street... | Wisdom personified speaks. |
| Prov 8:1-3 | Does not Wisdom call? | Wisdom personified speaks (2). |
| Prov 8:22-31 | The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works... | Wisdom's pre-existence, role in creation. |
| Matt 11:19 | Wisdom is proved right by her deeds. | Wisdom proven by its outcome. |
| Ps 127:1 | Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. | God is the ultimate builder. |
| Heb 3:3-4 | Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. | God as the supreme Architect. |
| John 14:2 | In My Father’s house are many rooms... | Father's dwelling place. |
| 1 Tim 3:15 | The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. | Church as God's household. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | ...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house. | Believers built into God's dwelling. |
| Ps 104:5 | He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. | God's establishment of earth. |
| Isa 28:16 | See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone... a firm foundation. | Christ as the cornerstone. |
| Eph 2:20 | Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. | Christ is the church's foundation. |
| Rev 3:12 | I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God... | Believers made strong, stable. |
| Gen 1:1-31 | God creates the heavens and the earth. | God as the ultimate Builder. |
| Gen 2:2-3 | By the seventh day God had finished his work... | Seven days of creation. |
| Exod 25:9 | Build them according to the pattern shown you... | Tabernacle built to divine pattern. |
| 1 Kgs 6:38 | In the eleventh year...the temple was finished in all its details according to all its specifications. | Solomon's temple building. |
| Luke 11:31 | The Queen of the South... came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. | Solomon's wisdom from God. |
| Prov 3:19 | The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. | God's wisdom in creation. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities... are clearly seen... | God's design revealed in creation. |
| Prov 8:32-36 | Blessed is the one who listens to me... finding life. | Wisdom leads to life. |
| John 6:35 | I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger. | Christ as spiritual sustenance. |
| Matt 7:24-27 | The wise and foolish builders on rock vs sand. | Wise choice brings stability. |
| 1 Cor 1:18-31 | The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom... | Contrast of divine and human wisdom. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge... | Foundation of wisdom. |
| Zech 4:10 | These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through out the whole earth. | Symbolism of "seven" as divine watchfulness. |
| Rev 5:6 | seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. | Seven Spirits of God, completeness. |
Proverbs 9 verses
Proverbs 9 1 Meaning
Proverbs 9:1 declares that divine Wisdom, personified, has actively constructed and firmly established her dwelling place. This "house" symbolizes the realm where her teachings and principles are imparted and embraced, offering stability, truth, and sustenance. The imagery of "seven pillars" emphasizes the perfect, complete, and unshakeable foundation upon which Wisdom's domain rests, signifying its divine origin and enduring nature. It represents the robust and multifaceted principles that uphold true discernment and knowledge.
Proverbs 9 1 Context
Proverbs 9 stands as the climax of the introductory section of the book (chapters 1-9), where the appeal of personified Wisdom is presented as a crucial choice for life. This chapter sets up a direct contrast between the calls of Wisdom (vv. 1-6) and Folly (vv. 13-18), both women inviting passersby to their respective "houses" for nourishment. Proverbs 9:1 specifically introduces Wisdom as an active, wise architect who has carefully prepared her dwelling, which will later be revealed as a place where she offers a life-giving feast. Historically and culturally, a house symbolized security, family, and a place of instruction. Pillars, especially seven of them, would evoke solidity, grandeur, and perfection, aligning Wisdom's house with divine construction rather than unstable human endeavors or the fleeting allurements of false teachers. It indirectly counters any beliefs that offered shallow or insecure foundations for living.
Proverbs 9 1 Word analysis
- Wisdom (חָכְמָה - Chokhmah): More than intellectual acuity, Chokhmah signifies practical skill, discernment, and the ability to live righteously in accordance with God's established order. Here, it is personified as a woman, acting with intention and foresight, representing the divine intelligence inherent in creation and righteous living. This divine quality actively shapes reality.
- has built (בָּנָה - banah): This verb denotes deliberate construction, not accidental occurrence. It implies careful design, effort, and establishment. Wisdom does not merely exist; she actively creates and sets in place her domain, indicating a strong, secure, and enduring structure for her teachings.
- her house (בֵיתָהּ - beitah): A "house" symbolizes a dwelling, a refuge, a stable environment, and often, a household or lineage. In this context, it represents the complete body of Wisdom's teachings, principles, and the life formed by adhering to them. It is the place where those who seek her are invited to come, learn, and be nourished, contrasting sharply with the fleeting and destructive "house" of Folly.
- she has hewn out (חָצַב - chatsav): This verb suggests arduous, precise work, like quarrying stones or cutting timber from raw materials. It conveys the immense effort, skill, and precision Wisdom employed in establishing her foundation. This isn't merely assembling, but carefully shaping and preparing.
- her seven pillars (שִׁבְעָה עַמּוּדֶיהָ - shiv'ah ammudeyha):
- Seven (שִׁבְעָה - shiv'ah): In biblical numerology, "seven" universally represents completeness, perfection, totality, and divine order (e.g., seven days of creation, seven-fold blessings). It conveys that Wisdom's foundation is absolute and divinely perfect, leaving nothing wanting.
- pillars (עַמּוּדֶיהָ - ammudeyha): Pillars are essential structural supports, symbolizing strength, stability, and enduring support. Metaphorically, these represent the foundational principles or cardinal virtues upon which Wisdom's entire structure of truth rests, such as the fear of the Lord, righteousness, justice, equity, prudence, knowledge, and discernment. They assure the listener of Wisdom's unwavering reliability.
Proverbs 9 1 Bonus section
The architectural imagery of "building her house" and "hewing out her seven pillars" draws parallels to the construction of sacred spaces like the Tabernacle and Temple, implying that Wisdom's domain partakes in divine design and purpose. This prepared house is where Wisdom later prepares her feast (Prov 9:2), emphasizing that her labor is for the benefit and nourishment of those who seek her. The perfect number "seven" also subtly links Wisdom's constructive work to the order of creation itself, positioning her as intimately involved in the very fabric of existence that God established. The complete nature of her structure foreshadows the comprehensive offering of her truth, which provides everything needed for a discerning and blessed life.
Proverbs 9 1 Commentary
Proverbs 9:1 inaugurates a pivotal section of the book by powerfully portraying Wisdom not as an abstract concept, but as a living, proactive agent. The image of her building her house with "seven pillars" signifies the meticulous and complete establishment of a secure domain for truth and life. This house represents the entire system of divine principles and instructions found within Scripture, crafted to provide stability, sustenance, and true understanding. The "seven pillars" underscore that Wisdom's foundation is perfect, fully comprehensive, and divinely ordained, standing immovably against all that is fleeting or false. It prepares the reader for Wisdom's invitation, highlighting the rock-solid reliability of her offerings compared to Folly's treacherous lure. Practical usage encourages us to recognize that true wisdom builds enduring lives on strong, unshakeable truths, providing shelter and nourishment that satisfy deeply and eternally.