Proverbs 7:4

Modern

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,

Traditional

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

Literal

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call out to understanding, “Kinsman,”

Latin

Dic sapientiæ: Soror mea es, et prudentiam voca amicam tuam:

Hebrew

English

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,

In Hebrew, sister is a term of endearment that shows closeness (see Song of Solomon 4:9–10).

This is the final section in Proverbs 1–9 that warns about the dangers of promiscuous women (see also Proverbs 2:16–22; 5:1–23; 6:20–35).

Theme notes and profiles

Proverbs 4:6–8
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
Proverbs 2:2–4
…if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
Song of Solomon 8:1
O that you were to me like a brother who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.
Job 17:14
…and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’
Matthew 12:49–50
Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.
Luke 11:27–28
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”