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Old Testamentđź’ˇ Wisdom Literature
Author:Solomon and others
Date Written:971-686 BC
Chapters:31
Position:Book 20 of 39

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Proverbs

Book Overview​

Author: Primarily Solomon, with contributions from "the wise," Agur, and Lemuel Date of Writing: Approximately 970-686 BC (compiled over several centuries) Historical Context: Israelite monarchy; wisdom tradition in ancient Near East Original Audience: Young men being trained in wisdom; broader community seeking godly living Purpose: To teach practical wisdom for living skillfully in God's world Genre: Wisdom literature; proverbial sayings, poetry, and instruction

One-Sentence Summary​

Practical wisdom for godly living begins with fearing the LORD and applies to every area of life including work, speech, relationships, and money.

Book Structure​

  1. Prologue: The Purpose and Foundation (1:1-7)

    • Statement of purpose
    • "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge"

  2. Wisdom's Call to Young Men (1:8-9:18)

    • Parental instructions
    • Warnings against folly and wickedness
    • Personification of Wisdom and Folly

  3. Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16)

    • 375 individual sayings
    • Covering practical life topics
    • Contrast between wise and foolish

  4. Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)

    • Thirty sayings collection
    • Additional wise sayings

  5. More Proverbs of Solomon (25:1-29:27)

    • Collected by Hezekiah's men
    • Varied topics and themes

  6. Sayings of Agur (30:1-33)

    • Numerical sayings
    • Observations about life

  7. Sayings of King Lemuel (31:1-9)

    • Mother's instruction to a king
    • Warnings about wine and women

  8. The Wife of Noble Character (31:10-31)

    • Acrostic poem
    • Model of wisdom embodied

Key Verses​

Proverbs 1:7 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

  • Significance: The foundational principle of the entire book; true wisdom must start with reverent relationship to God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

  • Significance: Calls for complete trust in God rather than self-reliance; promises divine guidance to those who acknowledge Him.

Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

  • Significance: Emphasizes the priority of inner character; external actions reveal internal condition, so protect what shapes you.

Key Themes & Messages​

Major Themes​

  1. The Fear of the Lord

    • "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge/wisdom"
    • Foundation for all true wisdom
    • Reverent awe and submission to God
    • Wisdom starts with right relationship to God

  2. Wisdom vs. Folly Personified

    • Lady Wisdom calls people to life and understanding
    • Lady Folly seduces toward destruction
    • Two paths: life or death, blessing or curse
    • Choice required - no neutral ground

  3. Practical Godliness

    • Covers work, money, speech, relationships, family
    • Character development through daily choices
    • Integration of faith into every area of life
    • Righteousness expressed in practical living

  4. The Power of Words

    • Tongue has power of life and death
    • Wise speech brings healing; foolish speech destroys
    • Self-control in speech shows maturity
    • Words reveal the heart's condition

  5. Consequences of Choices

    • Actions have built-in consequences (reaping and sowing)
    • Wisdom leads to life, honor, prosperity
    • Folly leads to death, shame, poverty
    • General principles, not absolute guarantees

Central Message​

Proverbs teaches that true wisdom begins with fearing the Lord and expresses itself in practical, godly living. Through short, memorable sayings, it guides readers toward skillful living in areas like work, relationships, money, and speech. The book presents two paths - wisdom leading to life, and folly leading to death - calling readers to choose wisdom and live according to God's design for human flourishing.

Practical Application​

For Daily Living:

  • Control Your Tongue: Proverbs repeatedly warns about destructive speech—practice wise, healing words
  • Work Diligently: The ant's example (Prov 6) challenges laziness—approach work with initiative and discipline
  • Choose Friends Wisely: "Walk with the wise and become wise"—surround yourself with people who build you up
  • Handle Money Biblically: Proverbs teaches generosity, avoiding debt, honest business practices
  • Pursue Sexual Purity: Flee sexual immorality like you'd flee a deadly trap (Prov 5-7)

For Spiritual Growth:

  • Read one chapter of Proverbs daily (31 chapters = one per day for a month)
  • Memorize key proverbs to have wisdom readily available when making decisions
  • Ask God for wisdom like Solomon did—He promises to give generously (James 1:5)
  • Study Proverbs 31 (both the wise sayings and the noble wife) as a model of godly character
  • Remember: these are general principles, not absolute promises—wisdom usually leads to blessing, but not always immediately

Commentaries​

Best Overall Proverbs by Bruce K. Waltke (NICOT, 2 volumes) - Magisterial work combining Hebrew scholarship, theological depth, and practical wisdom for contemporary life.

For Beginners Proverbs by Tremper Longman III (Baker Commentary) - Accessible, well-organized exposition that clearly explains proverbs and applies them practically.

For In-Depth Study Proverbs by Duane A. Garrett (NAC) - Solid evangelical commentary with excellent treatment of ancient Near Eastern wisdom and literary structure.

Technical/Academic Proverbs by Michael V. Fox (Anchor Bible, 2 volumes) - Comprehensive scholarly analysis with detailed philological notes and extensive comparative ancient Near Eastern material.