1

GURUKUL LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

Subject: Wisdom Literature in the Hebrew Bible (MOT014)
Topic: A Critical Introduction to the Book of Proverbs
Submitted by: Batlajuban F. Nongsiej Submitted to: Dr. John Samuel Ponnusamy

Introduction: The book of proverbs is one of the Wisdom Literature books, canonized in the
Christian Bible and accepted by the Jewish. This wisdom literature was however analyzed by
the historical critical researchers, which then reveals the about its content and formation, and
the influence of others wisdom traditions. The book of Proverbs contains insightful wisdom
on the human life- individual and familial and also the social life of humans on earth. It is not
merely „an anthology but an anthology of anthologies‟.1

The paper will critically discuss the title, authorship, date, structure, genre and composition
of the book of Proverbs.

1. Title:

In the Hebrew Bible the title of this book is found in the first verse of the book, which is hmoål{v.
ylev.miâ ((The Proverbs of Solomon). The book has however received many titles throughout the
history of the Jewish and Christian canon formation. The English title of the book of
“Proverb” is derived from the Latin Vulgate. While the Septuagint is Liber Proverbiorum.
The root word lv'm' is „parallel‟ or „similar‟ as in the way of comparing.2

2. Authorship:

Traditional beliefs ascribed Solomonic authorship to the book; however historical critical
studies manifested that the book has a number of authors and was compiled over an extended
period of time, which even included sources of non-Jewish traditions. Bible scholars vary in

1
Robert Alter, The wisdom books Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes: A translation with commentary
(New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2010), 174.
2
Gleason L. Archer, Jr., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction (Chicago: Moody Press, 1965), 449.
 2

their opinions concerning the authorship of the book. Several biblical critics believe that the
names in the Proverbs are symbolical reference.3

Michal V. Fox opined that the book is of a secular intent, and unlike other books, the divine
revelation or inspiration of Yahweh is never mention. He further stated that, except for few
passages, there hardly is any use in rituals life or temple worship for the book. But rather it
treats everyday life. If one may agree with fox, then one can imagine a multi cultural and
international authorship. There are three prevailing views of authorship of this book:
Solomonic authorship, Non-Solomonic authorship and Shared authorship.4

i. Solomonic Authorship: Scholars belief that several references of names (Agur, Lemuel,
etc.) in the book are symbolical and they all refer to the same- King Solomon. The term
Lemuel, meaning “to God”, also “Godward,” described someone given to a God. As a
child, Solomon had been dedicated to God and was named Jedidiah, which means “loved
by the Lord” (II Samuel 12:25). The name Agur means „gatherer‟ possibly refers to
Solomon who had gathered the proverbs. And the term The Wise may refer symbolically to
King Solomon who was regarded as as wisest man (I Kings 4:30-32).5 The Solomonic
authorship is directly supported by several evidences which are both internal and external.
a. Internal Evidence: The name of King Solomon was mention three times in the book
(1:1; 10:1; and 25:1). And reference of the phrase „the sayings of the wise‟ in 22:17-
24:22, 24:23-34, may have referred to King Solomon. John Ruffle opined that there is
no problem for the book to be the product of Solomon, even if not as a composer of
all the words but through substitute or borrowed and compiled the collection as we
now have it.6 According to the three books produce by the Rabbinic Tradition known
as Midrash Rabbah, Solomon‟s youth passion led him to wirte “Song of Songs”, his
experience as an adult give him the insight to write the “Proverbs” and his wisdom as

3
Lascelles James, “Authorship and Date of the Book of Proverbs” (Research Paper, Northern
Caribbean University: School of Religion and Theology, 2016). 3. Retrieved on 20 th August 2021.
http://www.academia.edu/24111508/Authorship_and_Date_of_the_Book_of_Proverbs?sm=b.
4
Barrington C. Hibbert, “The Authorship of the Book of Proverbs,” 1-2. 23rd August 2021.
http://www.httpspdfs.semanticscholar.org5359d30868a0834370d591faa525accad381b531.pdf.
5
James, “Authorship and Date of the Book of Proverbs” 3.
6
John Ruffle, “The Teaching of Amenemope and its Connection with the Book of Proverbs.” Tyndale
Bulletin 28 (January 1, 1977): 29-68. 22nd August 2021.
98.131.162.170//tynbul/library/TynBull_1977_28_02_Ruffle_AmenemopeAndProverbs.pdf.
 3

an old man paved a way for “Ecclesiastes”. His three phases of life, taught him three
kind of truth of life7

b. External Evidence: King Hezekiah‟s name was mentioned as writer of the book
Proverbs in Babylonian Talmud, i.e. Solomon‟s authorship was concluded. King
Solomon was known as a wise and a great writer of wisdom literature, as mentioned
in the Wisdom of Solomon (Ecclesiasticus) and many regions have been in awe of his
works in the form of songs, proverbs and parables. Origen, Eusebius, Didymus, Basil,
Cyril of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, the early church fathers wrote commentaries
on the book of Proverbs, included the book Proverbs within the sacred canon of Jews
and Christians.8

ii. Non- Solomonic Authorship: References of the book of proverbs are attributed to people
other than Solomon such as 22:17; 24:23- „The Wise,‟ in 30:1; 31:1, Agur and Lemuel
was mentioned and in certain parts, King Hezekiah‟s men were mentioned. Other
scholars claimed that the book of proverbs is a collection and a compilation work and it
cannot be composed by writing in one place, rather they were emerged in oral context out
of daily life experiences and later some have compiled them into written collection. 9
Thus, one can question the rigidity of the Solomonic composition.

OT scholars who applied historic-critical method argues that the post-exilic Jewish
community under Grecian influences must be credited for these literary achievements.
Even as late as 1922, Gustav Hoelscher, still placed the so-called older proverbial
literature in the Persian period.10 A numbers of other Ancient West Asian and Egyptian
proverbs existed similarly to those of the book of Proverbs. The Tell-Mardikh Tablet
(Ebla tablet of Syria) about 2450 B.C.E, have parallel proverbs to that of the book of
Proverbs. The Sumerian proverbs about 1700 B.C.E that contains 200 proverbs and 165

7
Tremper Longman III, „Proverbs,‟ in Baker Commentary on The Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms,
edited by Tremper Longman III (Michigan: Baker Academic, 2006), 20.
8
Gary H. Everett, Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures using a Theme-Based Approach to Identify
Literary Structures: The Book of Proverbs (personal study notes, 2017), 18-19. 23rd August 2021.
https://www.academia.edu/17912559/The_Book_of_Proverbs_2018_edition.
9
Roland E. Murphy, O. Carm, Wisdom Literature: Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Cänticles, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, Volume XIII The Forms of the Old Testament Literature (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William Beerdmans
Publishing Company, 1983), 50.
10
Bruce K. Waltke, “The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature,” Bibliotheca Sacra 136
(July-Sept., 1979): 222. 21st August 2021.
https://www.academia.edu/6037068/The_Book_of_Proverbs_and_Ancient_Wisdom_Literature?sm=b
 4

proverbs in two collections found at Nippur, Susa and Ur- have parallel form of proverbs
to those of Solomonic collection in 10:1-22:16 and 25:1-29:27. In other words, the
wisdom literature has existed around the Fertile Crescent long before the Hebrews were
in history.11

iii. Shared Authorship: Several of the internal evidences show both the Solomon and others
as authors of the book such as 10:1 says „proverbs of Solomon‟ and 24:23 says „sayings
of the Wise,‟ etc. Many of the scholars viewed Solomon as an „inspired editor‟ or
„collector‟ or proverbs form different traditions. Chapter 1-24, were credited to him and
dated to the 10th Century B.C.E., and was then recopied by King Hezekiah of Judah
around 250 years later and the chapter 250-29 were accredited to him. The sayings of
Agur and Lemuel were later added in chapter 30-31. Therefore one can say that the book
is shared by different authors of different times and compiled from different oral
traditions. The internal evidence points that the book may have a minimum of three
authors, or more if Solomon is considered as one of the wise men, (Solomon, the wise
men who were more than one, Agur, and Lemuel).12

3. Date:

It took long period for the final compilation of the book of Proverbs, from the different
authors and different generations. Some believes the book got final additions during post
exilic times by Jewish community under the influence of Greek tradition. There are others
who believe that the final compilation date of the book was around the 2nd century B.C.13

Solomon compiled the initial sources during his reign, then King Hezekiah‟s men reworked
and added more to the collections during 720 B.C.E, while the addition of the works of Agur
and Lemuel and the Saying of the Wise are unknown, however, when considering the literary
style it can probably dated to 1580-1100 B.C.E. however, difference in opinion as some
asserted that the older proverbial texts (22:17-24:22) connected to the Persian period (6th
Century onward). But several opinions suggested that many of the text of the book of
proverbs originated prior the reign of Solomon around the Fertile Crescent.14

11
Waltke, “The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature” 224
12
Hibbert, “The Authorship of the Book of Proverbs,” 2-5.
13
James, “Authorship and Date of the Book of Proverbs”, 3.
14
Waltke, “The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature,‟ 221-222.
 5

Archer Jr. brought some observation of Crawford H. Toy to support that the book of proverbs
dated prior to 350 BCE, and was brought to its final form in the 2nd century BCE. He opined
that the book of proverbs was not a work of the wise men of Solomon, but the writers of the
following period that used the Egyptian literature of 6th Dynasty of 2500 B.C.E. To him, from
the period of I Kings 4:30, it is clear that there was a pre Solomonic sages.15

4. Structure:

Bruce K. Watlke suggested the literary structure of the book of proverbs is parallel to the
Sebayt (Instruction/teachings) of the Egyptians, containing the

a. Title, indicating the instruction of a father to his son,

b. The prose/poetic reason as why the instruction is given.
c. The content, linking together of admonitions and sayings in mutually independent
sections of diverse nature.16

While Archer Jr. outline the book of Proverbs as:

i. Title and Purpose, 1:1-6

ii. 15 lessons on Wisdom, 1:7-9:18
iii. Additional Proverbs of Solomon, a series of approximately 375 maxims, 10:1-
22:16
iv. The Sayings of the Wise, first series, 22:17-24:22
v. The Sayings of the Wise, second series, 24:23-34
vi. Proverbs of Solomon recorded by Scribes of Hezekiah, 25:1-29:27
vii. The Sayings of Agur ben Jakeh, 30:1-33
viii. The Sayings of Lemuel, 31:1-9
ix. The Perfect wife, 31:10-3117

Waltke structure is precisely structured in the „Thirty sayings of the Wise‟ 22:17-24:22
excluding Title. While the writing of the sages of the Ancient near East and Sumerians
collections may have parallelism with division of the contents, they have key signs like catch
words that attached the other saying in anthological style. He also observed that there was

15
Archer, Jr., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, 453.
16
Waltke, “The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature,‟ 225-226.
17
Archer, Jr., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, 449-451.
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insignificant arrangement of sources in the ancient wisdom literature including the books of
Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.18

Further observations may be the used of materials by different authors in chapter 1-9
altogether. There are series instructions in these chapters. The poem on „personified wisdom‟
in chapter 1, 8 and 9 are in fact from differ authors, but they have undergo series of
reflections inserted by various authors into what is now. Thus, even though the book has
multiple authors, it is process of organic growth with each following author read and
elaborates on the text.19

5. Genre:

The book of Proverbs is a collection of several genres. It consisted of instructions, acrostic

poems and sayings. They are all combined together with different titles. It even extends it
similarities to the Egyptians instructions of Amenemope. The saying of the wise in 22:17 –
24:22 has a similarity. The wisdom speech in the initial section (ch. 1-9), is expressed as
personified wisdom.

There are three types of sayings in the book of proverbs- experiential, proverbial and didactic
sayings (11:24, 14:31, 15:33, 18:16, etc.). Command and Prohibitions appear in instruction
form and also as isolated at some places (8:33, 16:3, 20, 22:22-25, etc.).20 since the Israelites
proverbs writers holds the didactic writing styles of other cultures, Everett kept this book
Proverbs under Didactic poetry.21

6. Composition:

The composition of the book of Proverbs is not arranged orderly and was placed
unsystematically. Only chapters 1-9 are found to be arranged orderly in sequel. Several of the
proverbs are found to be independent sayings, and couplets and others like groupings are also
found. Michal V. Fox grouped the proverbs into three categories. 1) Pair: which is bigger

18
Waltke, “The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature,‟ 225-226.
19
Hibbert, “The Authorship of the Book of Proverbs,” 3-4.
20
Murphy, Wisdom Literature, 4-6, 50-52.
21
Everett, Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures, 17.
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than a verse and couplet, conveying same idea with different senses (e.g. 25:16-17), 2)
Cluster: it‟s a thematic grouping consisting of at least two sayings on same topic, (e.g. 10:1-
15:33, 16:1-9, 19:11-14), and 3) Larger Structure: this is elaborate arrangement and difficult
to identify it, it has many sub-structures connected by repetition of catchwords/ themes/ roots/
etc. (e.g. 10:1-15:32).22

7. Purpose:

The main purpose of the book of Proverbs is to know wisdom and practice it. Clement of
Alexandria added that it is to receive instructions and understand in wisdom. According to
Tardos, who opined that the book of proverbs is an index or an encyclopedia of facts that
contains knowledge of life, with its main purpose of educating, and add meaning to life
23
through right conduct. It reveals the true happiness, and how we can attain it

8. Theology:

The books of wisdom has it own theology, that is to know and fear the Lord. The phrase “the
fear of the Lord,” occurs fourteen times and does have a special reference in the book. Waltke
observes, it should be differentiated from the “fear of God,” since the latter refers “to a
standard of moral conduct known and accepted by men in general,”24 as in the book, the Lord
is seen as the giver of wisdom and understanding.25

9. Language:

The book of Proverbs is a series of human experiences in life and written in the proverbial
form, to teach the younger generations to be successful in all aspects of life. It uses poetic
language such as allegories, imageries, vision and dreams, hymns, parable, historical events
and even the use of nature (ants, plant, etc.).26

22
Barrington C. Hibbert, “The Authorship of the Book of Proverbs,” 5.
23
Tardos Y. Malaty, The Book of Proverbs (St. Marina's Coptic Orthodox Church: California, 1997),
11.
24
Waltke, “The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature,‟ 219-220.
25
Everett, Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures, 21.
26
Malaty, The Book of Proverbs…, 9.
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Conclusion:

The book of Proverbs which is regard important in ethics, has undergone series of different
era and with different addition from different authors of different timelines with different
cultural influences. It has also being edited by many people and also a compilation of several
proverbial and many of the modern scholars agreed on this shared authorship of the book
from its crude formation though with arguments. With different composition and genres the
Proverbs has given us many insights to the wisdom literature of the Ancient Near East. The
wisdom that the Book of Proverbs presented to us is much more than our ability to apply
knowledge to various situations in life effectively.

Bibliography

Books

Alter, Robert. The wisdom books Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes: A translation with
commentary. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2010.
Archer, Jr., Gleason L. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. Chicago: Moody Press,
1965.
Longman III, Tremper. „Proverbs.‟ In Baker Commentary on The Old Testament Wisdom and
Psalms. Edited by Tremper Longman III. Michigan: Baker Academic, 2006.

Malaty, Tardos Y. The Book of Proverbs. St. Marina's Coptic Orthodox Church: California,
1997.

Murphy, Roland E., O. Carm, Wisdom Literature: Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Cänticles,
Ecclesiastes, and Esther, Volume XIII. The Forms of the Old Testament Literature.
Grand Rapids, Michigan: William Beerdmans Publishing Company, 1983.

Article:

Everett, Gary H. Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures using a Theme-Based Approach to
Identify Literary Structures: The Book of Proverbs. Personal study notes, 2017. 23rd
August 2021.
mhttps://www.academia.edu/17912559/The_Book_of_Proverbs_2018_edition_
 9

Hibbert, Barrington C. “The Authorship of the Book of Proverbs.” 1-6. 23rd August 2021.
http://www.httpspdfs.semanticscholar.org5359d30868a0834370d591faa525accad381
b531.pdf

James, Lascelles. “Authorship and Date of the Book of Proverbs.” Research Paper, Northern
Caribbean University: School of Religion and Theology, 2016. 20th August 2021.
http://www.academia.edu/24111508/Authorship_and_Date_of_the_Book_of_Proverb
s?sm=b

Ruffle, John. “The Teaching of Amenemope and its Connection with the Book of Proverbs.”
Tyndale Bulletin 28 (January 1, 1977): 29-68. 22nd August 2021.
98.131.162.170//tynbul/library/TynBull_1977_28_02_Ruffle_AmenemopeAn
dProverbs.pdf.

Waltke, Bruce K. “The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature.” Bibliotheca
Sacra 136 (July-Sept., 1979): 211-238. 21st August 2021.,
2020.https://www.academia.edu/6037068/The_Book_of_Proverbs_and_Ancient_Wis
dom_Literature?sm=b