Proverbs 9:2 kjv
She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
Proverbs 9:2 nkjv
She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table.
Proverbs 9:2 niv
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
Proverbs 9:2 esv
She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
Proverbs 9:2 nlt
She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.
Proverbs 9 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 55:1-2 | "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters... eat what is good..." | Invitation to spiritual nourishment and life. |
| Prov 8:3-4 | "She cries out at the gates, at the entrance of the city... ‘To you, O men, I call...’" | Wisdom's open invitation. |
| Matt 22:2-4 | "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son..." | Parable of the wedding feast; divine invitation. |
| Lk 14:16-17 | "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many... ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’" | Parable of the great supper; all things ready. |
| Jn 6:35 | "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger...'" | Christ as ultimate spiritual provision. |
| Jn 6:53-56 | "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood..." | Christ's sacrificial provision for eternal life. |
| Rev 19:9 | "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." | Consummation of God's saving banquet. |
| Heb 5:12-14 | "You need milk, not solid food... solid food is for the mature..." | The importance of mature spiritual nourishment. |
| 1 Cor 10:16 | "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?" | The Lord's Supper as a feast of communion. |
| Col 2:3 | "...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." | Christ as the embodiment of wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | "...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." | Christ is God's wisdom personified. |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | "...Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God..." | Christ is the source of all true wisdom. |
| Prov 1:20 | "Wisdom cries aloud in the street..." | Wisdom's public invitation. |
| Prov 9:1 | "Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out her seven pillars." | Wisdom's established dwelling place for her feast. |
| Prov 9:5 | "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed." | Wisdom's direct invitation to her feast. |
| Prov 23:23 | "Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding." | Emphasizes the value and pursuit of wisdom. |
| Psa 23:5 | "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies..." | God's provision and presence. |
| Psa 50:5 | "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice." | The concept of gathering and sacrifice for covenant. |
| Rom 12:1 | "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice..." | Responding to God's abundant provision through self-dedication. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | God's comprehensive provision for His people. |
| Amos 8:11-12 | "A famine on the land—not a famine of bread... but of hearing the words of the LORD." | Spiritual famine; contrasting the abundance offered by wisdom. |
| Lk 15:23 | "Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate." | Rejoicing and feasting upon a return to the Father's house. |
Proverbs 9 verses
Proverbs 9 2 Meaning
Proverbs 9:2 illustrates Lady Wisdom's thorough and generous preparation of a sumptuous banquet. She has precisely readied her provision, slaughtering livestock and meticulously mixing her wine, all for the purpose of setting an inviting and abundant table. This depicts wisdom as an active hostess, making ample provision and offering spiritual nourishment and life to those who seek her.
Proverbs 9 2 Context
Proverbs chapter 9 marks the climax of the father's extended speeches (chapters 1-9) which advocate for wisdom and against folly. The chapter strikingly presents a vivid contrast between two women, Lady Wisdom (vv. 1-12) and Lady Folly (vv. 13-18), both calling out to the "simple" and "lacking in sense." Verse 2 details Lady Wisdom's meticulous and bountiful preparations for a grand feast. This imagery emphasizes the rich, substantial, and life-giving provision offered by true wisdom, a stark counterpoint to the hollow, ill-gotten gains and ultimate death offered by Folly (9:17-18). Culturally, feasts in the ancient Near East were significant occasions of communion, celebration, and instruction, often involving sacrifices. Wisdom's banquet signifies a deep, covenantal relationship and nourishing experience.
Proverbs 9 2 Word analysis
- She: Refers to "Wisdom" (חכמה, chokhmah), personified as a dignified, benevolent hostess, continuing the imagery from Prov 9:1 where she builds her house. This personification elevates wisdom beyond an abstract concept, presenting her as an active, inviting, and sustaining entity.
- has slaughtered: The Hebrew word is טָבַח (ṭāḇaḥ), meaning "to slaughter," particularly animals for food or sacrifice. It denotes the act of preparing a feast requiring substantial resources and effort, signifying the great cost and generous abundance of Wisdom's provision. It speaks of sacrifice for sustenance.
- her beasts: This implies livestock—cattle, sheep, or fattened animals—indicating a rich and plentiful provision, not just simple fare. The presence of such meat signifies a grand, significant banquet, typical of royal or covenantal gatherings.
- she has mixed: The Hebrew term is מָסַךְ (māsaḵ), meaning "to blend" or "to mix." Wine was commonly mixed with water, spices, or other ingredients to improve its taste, preserve it, or alter its potency. This action demonstrates meticulous preparation and refinement, ensuring the wine is perfect and enhancing the overall pleasure of the feast. It highlights Wisdom's careful thought for her guests' well-being and delight.
- her wine: A staple of ancient feasting, representing joy, celebration, and refreshment. In this context, it speaks to the intoxicating delight and invigorating truth that wisdom provides.
- she has also furnished: The Hebrew word is עָרַךְ (ʿāraḵ), meaning "to set in order," "to arrange," "to lay out," or "to prepare." This implies the final steps of preparing for a meal—setting the dishes, arranging the food and drink, making everything ready for the arrival of guests. It signifies order, readiness, and a welcoming atmosphere.
- her table: The physical focal point of a feast, where people gather to eat, drink, and fellowship. Symbolically, the "table" represents the abundance, provision, and communion offered by wisdom. It is the place where spiritual nourishment is received and shared.
Words-group analysis:
- "She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also furnished her table.": This tripartite description presents a comprehensive picture of meticulous and extravagant preparation. Each clause signifies a distinct stage in preparing a lavish banquet, moving from the initial, costly sacrifice (slaughtering), through refined preparation (mixing the wine), to the final, inviting setup (furnishing the table). Together, these actions emphasize the profound care, generous abundance, and complete readiness with which Wisdom offers her life-giving sustenance to humanity. It demonstrates an active, benevolent, and holistic provision, foreshadowing the divine provision of Christ.
Proverbs 9 2 Bonus section
- A Divine Hospitality: The imagery of Wisdom as a hostess preparing a feast transcends a mere meal. It is an act of divine hospitality, reflecting God's nature to provide richly for His people and invite them into intimate fellowship. This generosity far exceeds typical human banquets, pointing to a spiritual abundance that fulfills deep longings.
- Costly Provision: The act of "slaughtering her beasts" highlights that Wisdom's provision comes at a cost, echoing the concept of sacrifice in securing a covenantal relationship. In a Messianic sense, this implicitly anticipates the ultimate sacrifice of Christ to provide spiritual life and communion.
- Refined Nurture: "Mixed her wine" speaks to the intentionality and care with which Wisdom prepares her offering. It’s not just any wine but a prepared, choice vintage, signifying that the spiritual nourishment provided by wisdom is perfectly suited, beneficial, and delightful.
Proverbs 9 2 Commentary
Proverbs 9:2 paints a vivid image of Lady Wisdom as an active and generous hostess, preparing a lavish banquet for her guests. Her actions — slaughtering beasts, mixing wine, and furnishing her table — signify immense provision and readiness. This feast is not meager but bountiful, demonstrating that the sustenance Wisdom offers is rich, satisfying, and deeply nourishing. It contrasts sharply with the ephemeral, unsatisfying fare of Lady Folly later in the chapter. Ultimately, this scene portrays wisdom as the source of true spiritual life, generously offered and fully prepared for all who choose to partake, an image which points forward to Christ, the true wisdom of God, who invites humanity to feast upon Himself for eternal life and spiritual satisfaction. The comprehensive preparation underscores the divine initiative and the complete availability of God's wisdom to all who accept the invitation.