Proverbs 9:3 kjv
She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
Proverbs 9:3 nkjv
She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city,
Proverbs 9:3 niv
She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city,
Proverbs 9:3 esv
She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town,
Proverbs 9:3 nlt
She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
Proverbs 9 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:20-21 | Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice... | Wisdom's public proclamation |
| Prov 8:1-3 | Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?... | Lady Wisdom's open invitation |
| Prov 8:34 | Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates... | Wisdom inviting listeners |
| Isa 55:1 | Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters... | Divine invitation to receive freely |
| Matt 11:28 | Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. | Jesus' universal call and rest |
| John 7:37-38 | If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. | Jesus inviting those seeking fulfillment |
| Prov 2:1-5 | If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding... | Human seeking of wisdom |
| Matt 28:19-20 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... | Commissioning of messengers for the Gospel |
| Acts 1:8 | You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses... | Disciples empowered for wide witness |
| Rom 10:14-15 | How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?... | Necessity of sending those who proclaim |
| Luke 12:3 | What you have said in the ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. | Public revelation/proclamation |
| Acts 2:38-39 | Repent and be baptized every one of you... For the promise is for you... | Peter's public Gospel call on Pentecost |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | ...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. | Christ as the personification of Wisdom |
| Col 2:3 | ...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Fullness of wisdom found in Christ |
| Rev 22:17 | The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." | Universal invitation in the end times |
| Prov 9:13-15 | The woman Folly is loud... She sits at the door of her house, she takes a seat on the highest places... | Contrast with Lady Folly's deceptive call |
| Prov 3:13-18 | Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding... | Benefits of finding and receiving wisdom |
| Job 28:12-28 | But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?... | Wisdom's origin and inaccessibility apart from God |
| Jer 6:16 | Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths... | Calling to seek the good ways |
| Amos 8:11 | Not a famine of bread... but of hearing the words of the LORD. | Warning about lack of spiritual nourishment |
| Psa 19:1-4 | The heavens declare the glory of God... Their voice goes out through all the earth. | Creation's universal proclamation |
| Zeph 3:17 | The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save... | God's active presence and salvation |
| Isa 30:21 | Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it..." | God's guidance and instruction |
| Hab 2:2 | Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. | Clarity and accessibility of divine message |
| Prov 24:7 | Wisdom is too high for a fool... | Wisdom's inaccessibility to those who refuse |
Proverbs 9 verses
Proverbs 9 3 Meaning
Proverbs 9:3 describes Lady Wisdom actively dispatching her female servants or messengers to publicly summon people from the most prominent locations in the city. This imagery emphasizes the accessible, urgent, and open invitation of divine wisdom to all who will hear, urging them to partake in the life-giving nourishment she offers. It highlights wisdom's zealous desire to be known and embraced, contrasting with any hidden or deceptive calls.
Proverbs 9 3 Context
Proverbs chapter 9 serves as the dramatic climax of the introductory section of the book (Proverbs 1-9). This chapter presents a powerful allegory featuring two contrasting women, Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly, both issuing calls to humanity. Proverbs 9:1-6 depicts Lady Wisdom's meticulous preparation of her house and banquet, signifying a complete and nourishing spiritual provision. Verse 3, specifically, details the public, widespread, and earnest nature of her invitation. She doesn't whisper secrets or entice privately; rather, her messengers broadcast her call from the most visible and audible points of the city. This sets up a clear dichotomy with Lady Folly, whose deceptive and ultimately destructive call from a similar location is described later in the chapter (Prov 9:13-18). The immediate historical context reflects the urban setting of ancient Near Eastern cities, where public pronouncements were made from city gates, towers, or market squares. Lady Wisdom's polemic is against those who might seek illicit or hidden knowledge leading to destruction, advocating instead for open, divinely ordained wisdom that leads to life.
Proverbs 9 3 Word analysis
- She (הִיא, hi): Refers to Lady Wisdom, personified from previous chapters. Her actions are deliberate and proactive.
- has sent out (שָׁלְחָה, shalecha): From the root שָׁלַח (shalach), meaning "to send," "dispatch," "commission." This verb indicates purposeful action and delegation. It implies an authority that can send forth emissaries with a message.
- her young women (נַעֲרֹתֶיהָ, na'aroteyha): These are Wisdom's handmaidens or maidservants, acting as her messengers. The term נַעֲרָה (na'arah) can refer to a young woman, often unmarried, emphasizing purity or a state of readiness for service. Their youth might signify the freshness and perennial appeal of Wisdom's message, or simply denote a retinue. They are Wisdom's appointed emissaries.
- to call (קָרָא, qara): This means "to proclaim," "summon," "invite," or "read." It emphasizes an audible, public announcement intended to draw attention and response. The call is open and unhidden.
- from the highest places (רָמֵי, ramei): Refers to the most elevated or prominent parts. This could include watchtowers, city walls, hilltops, or strategic high points within or surrounding the city. The placement ensures maximum visibility and audibility.
- of the city (קָרֶת, qaret): Represents the inhabited urban area. Wisdom's call is not obscure or cultic but reaches into the common life and populace of society. It signifies accessibility to everyone within its bounds.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "She has sent out her young women": This phrase highlights Lady Wisdom's proactive and strategic nature. She is not passive but actively engages in outreach through her delegated agents. This demonstrates her deep desire for humanity to receive her teaching, preparing the way for an open and public proclamation.
- "to call from the highest places of the city": This phrase underscores the publicity and universality of Wisdom's invitation. The "highest places" ensure that her message is broadcast widely and can be heard by all, leaving no one with an excuse for ignorance. It represents the pervasive availability and bold declaration of divine truth, seeking to reach every ear within the human realm, in stark contrast to secretive, deceptive or hidden teachings.
Proverbs 9 3 Bonus section
The act of sending out "young women" (נַעֲרֹתֶיהָ, na'aroteyha) might carry additional symbolic weight. While primarily messengers, the choice of young women, rather than older, more authoritative figures or men, could suggest a certain innocence, grace, or pure dedication in the spreading of Wisdom's message. Their role anticipates the Great Commission where believers are sent out to proclaim the Gospel (Matt 28:19-20), representing God's active pursuit of humanity. Furthermore, the universal, public nature of Wisdom's call parallels the accessibility of the Gospel message. There is no special status or secret knowledge required; Wisdom broadcasts her life-giving message to the masses, inviting all to a feast prepared not through human effort but divine provision.
Proverbs 9 3 Commentary
Proverbs 9:3 beautifully illustrates the aggressive and generous nature of divine wisdom. Lady Wisdom is depicted as a majestic hostess, not content to simply prepare her banquet but actively sending out messengers to extend a wide and earnest invitation. Her "young women" act as public criers, making her appeal accessible to everyone. The specific mention of "the highest places of the city" emphasizes the open, visible, and comprehensive reach of her call; it is neither clandestine nor exclusive. This is wisdom made plain, available for all who will choose to hear and partake, offering spiritual life and nourishment openly in the marketplace of life, standing against the hidden enticements of folly and deception. Her call serves as a timeless reminder that divine truth is never far from us but publicly available to those willing to listen and follow.