Proverbs 8:23

Translations

Modern

From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.

Traditional

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

Literal

From everlasting I was poured out, from the head, from before the earth.

Latin

Ab æterno ordinata sum, et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret.

Interlinear

Hebrew

English

From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.

Notes

Proverbs 8:22–25

created me as His first course, before His works of old...From everlasting I was established: God's wisdom has always been. Here, wisdom is shown as a person, but it is not an actual person. Wisdom is part of God's character and nature. Unlike pagan gods, God does not need an outside advisor (see Isaiah 40:13–14). Jesus is the highest point of God's wisdom (see Colossians 1:15–17; 2:3).

Proverbs 8:1–9:18

The first part of Proverbs reaches a peak when the son meets two women. Both invite the young man, and the reader, into a close relationship. The young man and the reader must choose between:

The woman named Wisdom, who represents God's true wisdom (Proverbs 8:1–9:6)
The woman named Folly (9:13–18), who represents worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18–2:16)

Both women's houses are on "the heights of the city" (Proverbs 9:3, 14), which suggests ancient temples. The choice is between the true God and false gods.

Theme notes and profiles

The Creation The Word

Related verses

John 17:24
Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”
John 17:5
And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
Psalm 2:6
“I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”
1 John 1:1–2
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.
Ephesians 1:10–11
…as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.

Glossary

Proverbs, Book of Sons and Daughters of God

Topics

Earth: Created by God God: Eternity of Jesus, the Christ: Eternity of Jesus, the Christ: Preexistence of Wisdom: Spiritual: Unclassified Scriptures Relating to

Proverbs 8:23

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