Proverbs 8 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Wisdom calls out again

• Foolish people can choose to be wise (8:1–11)
• Characteristics of wisdom (8:12–21)
• God used wisdom in creation (8:22–31)
• Rewards of wisdom (8:32–36)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Wisdom calls out

In this chapter and the next chapter, wisdom is referred to as if it were a woman who calls out for all to learn from her. Wisdom is also pictured as a person who was with God when he created the universe. These are poetic ways of saying that God offers wisdom to all people and that he created the universe through his wisdom. In languages where it is possible for something like wisdom to be spoken of as if it were a person who speaks, the translator should translate in this way. However, if direct translation is not possible in your language, you may translate the personification as similes instead. In that case, wisdom would be presented as being like a wise woman. When wisdom speaks in 8:4–36, the notes will use the proper noun “Wisdom” to indicate that the personification of wisdom is speaking. See how you translated similar references to wisdom in 1:20–33. (See: figs-personification)