PROV 8:23 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–36: Wisdom calls out to people and reminds them of the benefits of being wise

In contrast to the previous section describing the adulterous woman, this section describes personified Wisdom. The public setting for Wisdom’s speech is described in 8:1–3. In 8:4–11, she addresses all mankind and describes her own character. In 8:12–21, she provides reasons why people should choose her. Additional motivation is given in 8:22–31: Wisdom was with the LORD when he created the world. The section ends with Wisdom appealing to mankind to follow her teaching (8:32–36).

This section is a speech by personified Wisdom. As in Wisdom’s speech in 1:20–33, the Notes have used a capital letter for Wisdom in most verses. However, in her speech, Wisdom sometimes refers to “wisdom” as an ability that people have or use or should try to obtain. In some of these contexts, the Notes have used small letters for “wisdom.” The Display will often give more than one option. You may use either option in your language, depending on what is appropriate in each context.

Some other headings for this section are:

Wisdom’s Call (NIV)

Listen to Wisdom (NCV)

The good qualities of Wisdom

Wisdom’s second invitation to people

Paragraph 8:22–31

In this paragraph, Wisdom gives additional reasons why people should choose her. The LORD created Wisdom before anything else (8:22–26), and she was present with the LORD when he created the world (8:27–29). She also delighted in what the LORD created (8:30–31).

8:23

Notice the three time phrases that are similar in meaning.

^23a From everlasting I was established,

^23b from the beginning,

^23c before the earth began.

8:23b

from the beginning,

at the very first,
He did this at the very beginning of everything,

8:23c

before the earth began.

before he began to create the world.
before the world existed.

8:23a–c

From everlasting…from the beginning, before the earth began: In this and the preceding verse, the writer’s focus is not on the way in which Wisdom came into existence. Instead, the focus is on the long time that she has been in existence.

from the beginning, before the earth began: Other ways to translate from the beginning are:

in the very beginning (NCV)

at the very first (CEV)

We are not told when the beginning took place. We only know that it was before the earth began or “before the earth came into being.” The NLT translates the whole verse as:

I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. (NLT)

8:23a

From everlasting I was established,

He appointed me to be his companion long, long ago,
In the distant past, he established me in my current position.

From everlasting I was established: There are two ways to interpret this verb phrase:According to Whybray (page 131), the Hebrew verb form found here, nissakti, has been understood as the niphal of the root nasak “to set up” or of the root sakak “to weave.” The HOTTP accepts both “I was established” and “I was fashioned” as possible translations of this niphal form.

It means “appointed” or “established.” For example:
From everlasting, I was firmly set (NJB) (BSB, NIV, NRSV, ESV, NASB, NJB, NET, NLT, GW)
It means “woven together” or “formed.” For example:
I was formed in earliest times (REB) (NJPS, REB, GNT, NCV, CEV)

Both of these interpretations are well supported. You may choose either one.

If you choose interpretation (1), it may be necessary to make explicit that the LORD is the one who did the establishing. You may also need to state what Wisdom was established to be/do. For example:

He appointed me to be his companion a very long time ago

If you choose interpretation (2), other ways to translate “woven together” are to use the verbs “created” or “made.” For example:

I was created in the very beginning (NCV)

The Display will follow interpretation (1).

From everlasting: This phrase refers to the distant past.

General Comment on 8:22–23

In some languages, it may be necessary to combine some of the parallel expressions in these verses in order to avoid unacceptable redundancy. Below are two ways to combine and/or reorder these two verses. There is one example of each of the two interpretations:

It was the LORD who caused me to exist and appointed me as his companion. He did this very long ago, before he created the world or anything else.

A very long time ago, at the first, before the LORD had made the world or anything else, he created/made me.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

מֵ֭⁠עוֹלָם נִסַּ֥כְתִּי מֵ⁠רֹ֗אשׁ מִ⁠קַּדְמֵי־אָֽרֶץ

from=long_ago/eternity set_up from_[the],beginning from_[the],beginnings_of earth

If it would be helpful in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “I was poured out from eternity, from the head, from the ancient times of the earth”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מֵ֭⁠עוֹלָם

from=long_ago/eternity

Here, eternity refers to the distant past. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “In the distant past”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

נִסַּ֥כְתִּי

set_up

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The context implies that Yahweh did the action. Alternate translation: “Yahweh poured me out”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נִסַּ֥כְתִּי

set_up

Here, Wisdom speaks of being established as if she were a liquid that was poured out. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “I was established”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מֵ⁠רֹ֗אשׁ

from_[the],beginning

Here, head refers to the first in a series of something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “at the first”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מִ⁠קַּדְמֵי־אָֽרֶץ

from_[the],beginnings_of earth

The phrase the ancient times of the earth refers to the time when the earth was made. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “from when God created the earth”

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 8:23

Hebrew word order