Focused Passage

Proverbs 8:22-31

Wisdom's Public Call: Righteous Speech, Royal Counsel, and the Joy of Creation

The chapter moves from Wisdom's public summons, to the integrity of her speech, to her moral and royal counsel, to her place in creation's ordering, to a final appeal that listening to Wisdom means life.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

22The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.

23From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.

24When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.

25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,

26before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.

27I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

28when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

29when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

30Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.

31I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 22

Original words

The LORDיְֽהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularcreated meקָ֭נָנִיH7069Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singularas His firstרֵאשִׁ֣יתH7225Noun - feminine singular constructcourseדַּרְכּ֑וֹH1870Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singularbeforeקֶ֖דֶםH6924Noun - masculine singular constructHis worksמִפְעָלָ֣יוH4659Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singularof oldמֵאָֽז׃H227Preposition-m | Adverb

BSB notes

  • Or The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way
Verse 23

Original words

From everlastingמֵ֭עוֹלָםH5769Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularI was establishedנִסַּ֥כְתִּיH5258Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singularfrom the beginningמֵרֹ֗אשׁH7218Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularbefore the earthאָֽרֶץ׃H776Noun - feminine singularbeganמִקַּדְמֵי־H6924Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Verse 24

Original words

When there were noבְּאֵין־H369Preposition-b | Adverbwatery depthsתְּהֹמ֥וֹתH8415Noun - common pluralI was brought forthחוֹלָ֑לְתִּיH2342Verb - Pual - Perfect - first person common singularwhen noבְּאֵ֥יןH369Preposition-b | Adverbspringsמַ֝עְיָנ֗וֹתH4599Noun - masculine pluralwere overflowingנִכְבַּדֵּי־H3513Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural constructwith waterמָֽיִם׃H4325Noun - masculine plural
Verse 25

Original words

Beforeבְּטֶ֣רֶםH2962Preposition-b | Adverbthe mountainsהָרִ֣יםH2022Noun - masculine pluralwere settledהָטְבָּ֑עוּH2883Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person common pluralbeforeלִפְנֵ֖יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe hillsגְבָע֣וֹתH1389Noun - feminine pluralI was brought forthחוֹלָֽלְתִּי׃H2342Verb - Pual - Perfect - first person common singular
Verse 26

Original words

beforeעַד־H5704Preposition. . .לֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleHe madeעָ֭שָׂהH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe landאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singularor fieldsוְחוּצ֑וֹתH2351Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralor anyוְ֝רֹ֗אשׁH7218Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof the dustעָפְר֥וֹתH6083Noun - masculine plural constructof the earthתֵּבֵֽל׃H8398Noun - feminine singular
Verse 27

Original words

Iאָ֑נִיH589Pronoun - first person common singularwas thereשָׁ֣םH8033Adverbwhen He establishedבַּהֲכִינ֣וֹH3559Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularthe heavensשָׁ֭מַיִםH8064Noun - masculine pluralwhen He inscribedבְּח֥וּקוֹH2710Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singulara circleח֝֗וּגH2329Noun - masculine singularonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe faceפְּנֵ֥יH6440Noun - common plural constructof the deepתְהֽוֹם׃H8415Noun - common singular
Verse 28

Original words

when He establishedבְּאַמְּצ֣וֹH553Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularthe cloudsשְׁחָקִ֣יםH7834Noun - masculine pluralaboveמִמָּ֑עַלH4605Preposition-m | Adverbwhen the fountainsעִינ֥וֹתH5869Noun - common plural constructof the deepתְּהוֹם׃H8415Noun - common singulargushed forthבַּ֝עֲז֗וֹזH5810Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 29

Original words

when He setבְּשׂ֘וּמ֤וֹH7760Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singulara boundaryחֻקּ֗וֹH2706Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularfor the seaלַיָּ֨ם׀H3220Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularso that the watersוּ֭מַיִםH4325Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralwould notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlesurpassיַֽעַבְרוּ־H5674Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralHis commandפִ֑יוH6310Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularwhen He marked outבְּ֝חוּק֗וֹH2710Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularthe foundationsמ֣וֹסְדֵיH4144Noun - masculine plural constructof the earthאָֽרֶץ׃H776Noun - feminine singular
Verse 30

Original words

Then I wasוָֽאֶהְיֶ֥הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singulara skilled craftsmanאָ֫מ֥וֹןH525Noun - masculine singularat His sideאֶצְל֗וֹH681Preposition | third person masculine singularandוָֽאֶהְיֶ֣הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularHis delightשַׁ֭עֲשֻׁעִיםH8191Noun - masculine pluraldayי֤וֹם׀H3117Noun - masculine singular[by] dayי֑וֹםH3117Noun - masculine singularrejoicingמְשַׂחֶ֖קֶתH7832Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singularalwaysבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .עֵֽת׃H6256Noun - common singularin His presenceלְפָנָ֣יוH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or filled with His delight
Verse 31

Original words

I was rejoicingמְ֭שַׂחֶקֶתH7832Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singularin His whole worldבְּתֵבֵ֣לH8398Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct. . .אַרְצ֑וֹH776Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singulardelightingוְ֝שַׁעֲשֻׁעַ֗יH8191Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singulartogetherאֶת־H854Prepositionin the sonsבְּנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof menאָדָֽם׃פH120Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.