Wisdom is personified as a woman in Proverbs 1:20-21; 2:2-4; 3:14-18; 4:7-8; 8:1-36 and 9:1-12. Each time wisdom speaks. The first time wisdom speaks is in Proverbs 1:20-21.
Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: Proverbs 1:20-21 (NASB)
The Hebrew word for wisdom is hakmot and this noun is a feminine plural. A literal reading would seem to be "Wisdom shouts in the street," except that the second line is in the singular - "she lifts her voice." F. C. Cook writes,
In the Hebrew the noun is a feminine plural . . . as though this Wisdom were the queen of all wisdoms, uniting in herself all their excellences.[1]
That is, since Proverbs 2:6 says that God gives wisdom, the wisdom in Proverbs is the queen of all wisdoms. There is no greater wisdom.
comment: I don't think proverbs 31 means wisdom is a heavenly female creature. My opinion. It is the way Solomon (had 900 wives;300 concubines) described wisdom. Possibly Jewish literature would address this?
Hello Betty In James 3:13-17 gives a good summary of wisdom verse 17[correct application of information given] from
above and from below 14-16[incorrection usage of knowledge]. The word she biblically is at times used of the item
itself, I think of a man that loves something that's worked well i.e. car, tool etc. Wisdom she is worth great treasure to
those who love her and apply. It is very interesting that in nerse 17 there are eight manifested or shown in someones walk of Gods wisdom and 8 biblically signifies spiritual perfection. These are trsaits in people who endeavor to walk
Good question. Would someone with a very deep understanding of Biblical Hebrew and of the ancient Bible word usage to explain whether Wisdom is really feminine or whether the noun "Wisdom" is traditionally used as feminine for grammar inflection to show gender (and what does that mean).
Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: Proverbs 1:20-21 (NASB)
The Hebrew word for wisdom is hakmot and this noun is a feminine plural. A literal reading would seem to be "Wisdom shouts in the street," except that the second line is in the singular - "she lifts her voice." F. C. Cook writes,
In the Hebrew the noun is a feminine plural . . . as though this Wisdom were the queen of all wisdoms, uniting in herself all their excellences.[1]
That is, since Proverbs 2:6 says that God gives wisdom, the wisdom in Proverbs is the queen of all wisdoms. There is no greater wisdom.
comment: I don't think proverbs 31 means wisdom is a heavenly female creature. My opinion. It is the way Solomon (had 900 wives;300 concubines) described wisdom. Possibly Jewish literature would address this?
I don't know.
above and from below 14-16[incorrection usage of knowledge]. The word she biblically is at times used of the item
itself, I think of a man that loves something that's worked well i.e. car, tool etc. Wisdom she is worth great treasure to
those who love her and apply. It is very interesting that in nerse 17 there are eight manifested or shown in someones walk of Gods wisdom and 8 biblically signifies spiritual perfection. These are trsaits in people who endeavor to walk
in Christ Jesus via the spirit.
God Bless
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