Prov 1.1-33 will give us the author of this chapter and his instructions for his son. Wisdom is personified as the virtuous woman calls out for people to hear her voice. This book gives us a clear sense of cause and effect in the universe. Good choices result in good things, bad choices result in bad things.
Prov 1.1-6 gives us the title and introduces us to who wrote most of the book and why it was written.
v 1…The proverbs (sayings) of Solomon (“peace”) the son of David, king of Israel (all titles for Yeshua).
v 2…To know (“Hebrew “da’at” meaning knowledge of God as found in the Torah, the basic facts) wisdom (Hebrew “chachmah” meaning an inspired intellect and input into the mind to know what to do with it all) and instruction, to discern (perceive) the sayings of understanding (Hebrew “binah” meaning to discern, using the Scriptures, between good and evil, comprehension. Keep these terms in mind as we move along through Proverbs).
v 3…To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity (as defined by the Torah);
v 4…to give prudence to the naive (simple), to the youth knowledge and discretion (these sayings will be accepted by those who want to have a Torah-based life).
v 5…A wise man (who realizes the value of a Torah-based life with faith in Yeshua) and increase in learning (adding to his knowledge and doesn’t think they know it all), and a man of understanding (has insight into the Torah/Scriptures) will acquire wise counsel (accept the guidance of the prudent).
v 6…to understand (have insight into) a proverb and a figure (an interpretation, an enigma), the words of the wise and their riddles (to another meaning of their dark sayings and parables, scripture and doctrine).
Prov 1.7-19 gives us a basic trait of wisdom which is the avoidance of evil.
v 7…The fear (reverence, to know him as Father) of Yehovah is the beginning (basis) of knowledge (da’at); fools (“evilim” or foolish) despise wisdom (chachmah) and instruction (there are basically four types of fools that we need to be familiar with, and when the word “fool” is used they don’t mean the same thing every time. The “Peti” is an open fool. The “evilim” or “kesil” thinks they are above instruction, but has self-control. The “letz” is a scoffer and ignites controversy. The “Naval” is a God-denying fool, arrogant and vile).
v 8…Hear, my son your father’s instruction (his literal son, or anyone who comes to him for advice) and do not forsake your mother’s teaching (“Torah”-don’t set it aside).
v 9…Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head (a diadem) and ornaments (chains) about your neck (these are metaphors and not to be taken literally. This is similar to Deut 6.8 and to be understood as “as if they are.” In other words, “don’t lose them.” We should treasure truth like valuable jewelry we wear. We will see this concept in other verses in Proverbs).
v 10…My son, if sinners entice you (habitual, non-Torah observant, “open the way for you”) do not consent (refuse them).
v 11…If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood (out of a sense to kill, not revenge, etc), let us ambush (lurk) the innocent without cause;
v 12…Let us swallow them alive like Sheol (murder them and put them in the realm of the dead), even whole (living and full of blessings), as those who go down to the pit (to the grave);
v 13…We shall find all kinds of precious wealth (when they rob them after they are killed), we shall fill our houses with spoil.
v 14..Throw in your lot with us (join us), we shall all have one purse (have an equal share of the spoil).
v 15…My son, do not walk in the way with them (associate with them), keep your feet from their path.
v 16…For their feet run to evil (rush to it, but also to their own punishment), and they hasten (hurry) to shed blood (so they can get their money, spoil).
v 17…Indeed (surely), it is useless (no purpose) to spread the net in the sight (eyes) of the bird (they can see it and won’t get trapped, so be as wise as the bird and avoid their acts because it traps you in the end);
v 18…But they lie in wait for their own blood, they ambush their own lives (criminals can’t see the connection between their acts for monetary gain and the ruin and destruction that is going to entrap them, so avoid them).
v 19…So are the ways of everyone who gains (is greedy) by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors (brings the greedy down to punishment and destruction).
Prov 1.20-33 personifies wisdom as a person who is calling people to be wise, and is seen as a woman of virtue.
v 20…Wisdom (chachmot is feminine singular and is contrasted with the Harlot in Proverbs. She is the “essence” of the Torah) shouts in the square (plaza or the town square, publicly).
v 21…At the head of the noisy streets (chief concourse or gathering place) she cries out; at the entrance of the gates of the city (inside the gates, the courts, etc) she utters her sayings.
v 22…”How long, O naive (simple) ones will you love simplicity (inexperience, easily influenced), and scoffers delight themselves in scoffing (rejecting the truth), and fools (kesilim) hate knowledge (because they think they are above instruction).
v 23…Turn to my reproof (away from evil), behold (see for yourself), I will pour out my spirit on you (give you power and understanding, be under my control); I will make my words (the Torah/Scriptures) known to you.
v 24…Because I called you and you refused (here is the reproof of v 23); I stretched out my hand (to help), and no one paid attention (to my eager invitation to wisdom);
v 25…And you neglected all my counsels (didn’t use it), and did not want my reproof (declined it altogether);
v 26…I will ever laugh at your calamity (mocking their distress; wisdom has nothing to offer when trouble comes); I will mock when your dread comes (measure for measure),
v 27…When your dread comes like a storm (desolation), and your calamity (destruction) comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you (not laughing at the disaster, but the victory of right over wrong).
v 28…Then they will call upon me (asking for wisdom to know what to do) but I will not answer (they don’t answer the call of wisdom, so Yehovah won’t answer them). They will seek me diligently (early), but they will not find me.
v 29…Because they hated knowledge, and do not choose the fear of Yehovah (when it was offered they refused the true wisdom of God found in his word-Hos 4.6 says “the knowledge” in Hebrew which is the Torah).
v 30…They would not accept my counsel (yield to it), they spurned all my reproof (to turn away from evil).
v 31…So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way (suffer the consequences), and be satiated (filled) with their own devices (counsels that now dictate what is happening to them).
v 32…For the waywardness (turning away) of the naive (simple) shall kill them (the cause), and the complacency of fools shall destroy them.
v 33…But he who listens to me (the virtuous woman-wisdom) shall live securely (safely), and shall be at ease from the dread of evil (feel safe in the middle of any threat or trouble).”
Leave a Reply