Proverbs

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[MSB, 874-6; SOTI, 515-23]

A. Introduction
a. Title
i. Hebrew: “Proverbs of”
ii. LXX: “Proverbs of Solomon”
iii. Vulgate: “The Book of Proverbs”
b. Definition
i. “Generally Speaking, a proverb is a succinct and persuasive saying
proven true by experience” (Arnold & Beyer).
ii. Proverbs are not promises (e.g., 22:6).
iii. Proverbs are not commands (e.g., 22:24-25; 24:27)
iv. Proverbs are generally true, not true in particular situations; they are
context-sensitives. Usually true; not always the case.
1. Ecclesiastes and Job drive this home
2. Job: suffering of the righteous (Job 42:5-6).
3. Ecclesiastes: Suffering the righteous (e.g., Eccl. 7:15; 8:14; etc.).
4. There are exceptions to the rule.
v. Proverbs are generally principles of life (skill in living).
1. How to avoid/handle problems when they present themselves?
2. How to interpret other people’s speech in order to react correctly
to what they are saying?
3. “Biblical wisdom is much closer to the idea of emotional
intelligence than it is to Intelligence quotient” (Tremper
Longman III, How to Read Proverbs, 15-16)
4. Etc.
c. Date
i. 970-931 B.C. – The Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16; 25:1-29:27)
ii. C. 690 B.C. – The Final Collection in the Days of Hezekiah (25:1)

B. Major Themes
a. The God of the Proverbs
i. God is Sovereign (16:1, 4, 9, 33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1)
ii. God is Man’s Maker (20:12)
iii. God is Man’s Blesser (12:22; 16:7)
iv. God is Man’s Judge (16:5; 20:27; 21:2; 24;11-12)
v. God is Revealer of Truth (2:6; 6:23; 8:22-36)
b. Man Before God
i. Man is a Rebel (19:3; 20:9)
 ii. Man needs to Trust God (15:33; 16:6, 20)

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iii. All Men are the same before God (22:2; 29:13)
c. The Personal Conduct of Man
i. Diligence (10:4; 12:11; 16:26; 27:23-27)
ii. Speech (10:21; 12:25; 15:23; 20:19; 29:20)
iii. Humility (11:2; 12:9; 16:19)
iv. Control of Temper (12:16; 14:29; 17:14; 22:24-25)
v. Joy (14:10; 15:13, 15; 25:20; 27:9)
d. Man in Society
i. Family Life
1. Wives (12:4; 18:22; 19:14; 21:9, 19; 25:24)
2. Discipline of Children (22:6, 15; 23;13-14; 29:15, 17)
ii. Kings (14:28, 35; 25:4-5; 28:2; 29:4)
iii. Neighbors (11:9; 14:21; 25:17)
iv. Money (22:7; 23:4-5; 11:24-26; 14:21; 28:11)

C. Purpose: The young, naïve son is given exhortation to and instruction in the ways of
wisdom.
a. “The unifying purpose of the collection is to encourage the reader to live
righteously and justly before God” (Arnold & Beyer).
b. “The purpose of the book of Proverbs, stated in the introduction (1:2-7), is
delineated through the use of five infinitives verbs: to know, to discern, to
receive, to give, and to understand. Thus, the book is like an instructional
manual to lead people in righteous living before God” (W&W, 881 kindle
version).

D. The Literary Structure

I. Solomon’s Reflections on the Way of Wisdom (chaps. 1-9)
II. Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16)
III. Anonymous Wise Sayings (22:17-24:22)
IV. More Anonymous Sayings (24:23-24)
V. More Proverbs of Solomon (chaps. 25-29)
VI. Sayings of Agur (chap. 30)
VII. Maternal instructions or sayings of Lemuel (chap. 31)

E. Bibliography
a. Exegetical: Murphy, Proverbs (WBC).
b. English Interpretation: Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NAC).
Kidner, Proverbs (TOTC)
c. Expositional: Mayhue, Practicing Proverbs
 Koptak, Proverbs (NIVAC).

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F. Selected Interpretive Problems
a. The Order of the Proverbs [MSB, 889]
i. Random, Disordered, and Disjointed [EBC]
ii. Smaller Ordered Units [Murphey; Garrett]
iii. A Presently Unknown Precise Order
b. The Nature of the Proverbs [MSB, 876; COTC, 246-8]
i. Inflexible, Absolute Principles
ii. Expressions of Genesis, not Exhaustive, Truth (e.g., 17:27-28; 26:4-5)
[Garrett (?)]
iii. Presentation of a Slice of Reality [Murphey]

Introduction The Admonition to The Proverbs of The Final Words

Acquire Wisdom Solomon and the
Wise
Title (1:1) Solomon Agur (30:1-330
(10:1-22:16)
Purpose (1:2-6) The Wise Lemuel (31:1-9)
(22:17-24:34)
Motto (1:7) Solomon “The Excellent
(25:1-29:27) Wife” (31:10-31)

1:1 1:8 10:1 30:1

c. The Speaker in 8:22-31 [MSB, 888]

i. The Messiah
ii. The Personification of Wisdom [Murphey; Garrett; Kidner; Koptak;
EBC; BKC]
d. The Virtuous Wife [MSB, 922-3]
i. “Lady” Wisdom [Murphey; EBC]
ii. A Literal Wife and Mother [Garrett; Kidner; BKC]

G. Content and Theology of the Book

Wisdom for everyday life in the practical details.

God-centered
- Some say proverbs is just secular wisdom, but there is no realm of life separated from
God for Israel.
- See 1:7 fear of the Lord and 9:10 (framework and inclusion).
- Trusting the Lord, 29:25
- Finding a good wife, 18:22
 - He sees all, 15:3, 11; 20:12

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- Punishes evil, 11:21; 15:8; etc.
- God’s sovereignty, 21:1; 20:12; 20:24; 21:30-31
- And human planning, 16:1, 9; 19:21; 16:33
- See also 14:26; 15:33; 8:13; 23:17; 15:16
Wisdom and Torah
- 6:22 and Deut. 6:7
- Life in 4:4 and 10 and Lev. 18:5
- Bind them 7:3 and Deut. 6:6; 11:18; 30:14.

Wisdom and Speech

- Healing 12:18
- Feeding 10:21
- Fools speak w/o thinking 29:20, believing in authenticity 21:23; cf. 13:3; 17:27; 29:11.
- Too many words equal sin 10:19
- Wise listen and ponder 15:28
- Honest and gentle 15:4; 24:6; 15:1
Riches and Poverty
- Laziness 22:13; 12:27; 6:6-11; 20:4; 12:11; 10:4; 15:19
- Rich often work hard 16:26; 10:5; 12:11; 27:23-27; 20:21; 21:25
- Benefits of riches: 15:6; 22:7; 10:15; 19:4; 13:22
- Still shouldn’t trust in riches: 11:28
- Some get riches wickedly 17:8; 18:16; 17:23; 22:22; 11:26; 22:16
- Poor may be oppressed (14:31) treated unjustly (13:33 and 30:14).
- Mocking the poor is mocking God 17:5; 22:2
- The poor have rights 29:7
- A poor person may have more integrity than the rich 19:1, 22; 28:11
- Some are rich and unhappy 15:16-17; 17:1
- Don’t toil for wealth 23:4-5
- Neither poverty or riches 30:7-9
The King
- Kings as righteous
o They don’t sin in speech 16:10
o Hate evil 16:12-13; cf. 16:14-15
o Removes evil 20:8
o Loves goodness 22:11
- People should fear the king 24:21
- Kings almost godlike
 o Search out what is hidden 25:2

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o Heart of kings unsearchable 25:3, which is said of God elsewhere: Job 5:9, etc.
- Kings may do evil
o Listen to falsehood 29:12
o Injustice 29:4
o Mistreating the poor 29:14

Wise Observations about Life

- One person seems right until one hears the other side 18:17
- Rareness of loyalty 20:6
- Don’t visit neighbor too often 25:17
- Talented are advanced 22:29
- Grief and Joy can’t be shared ultimately 14:10
- Those laughing may be grieving inside 14:13
- Joy gives strength in adversity 17:22; 18:14
- Joy of good counsel 15:23; 12:25
- Glad songs aren’t for the grieving 25:25
- Seeking counsel 11:14; 15:22; 20:18
- No oxen, a clean manger but no abundant crops 14:4
- Make friends with the wise 13:30
- Don’t meddle in quarrels 26:17
- Gossip as fuel 26:20-21
- Children can be pure and upright 20:11
- Some are confident but evil 30:12, 20
- Beauty of a woman tarnished 11:22
- Pride before destruction 16:18
- Blaming the Lord for folly 19:3
- Nagging wife 21:19
The Future
- Proverbs often teaches that the future will be better for those who are wife.
- Honor and life 22:4
- Deliverance from physical death and enjoying a long life 3:2; 10:2
- Humble will be honored 29:33, but wicked will be forgotten and have short lives 10:7,
25, etc.
- Evil people have no future 24:20
- Future for the wise 24:20
- God throws the wicked into ruin 21:12
- Tree of life Gen. 2:9; 3:17, 22, 24
- Gentile tongue is tree of life 15:4
- Desire fulfilled tree of life 13:12
- Those who find wisdom find life 8:35; cf. 11:30
 - Turning aside to unfaithful women leads to death 2:18-19

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- Keeping father’s commands leads to life 3:2; 4:22
- Righteousness leads to life 12:28; 16:31
- Fear of Lord leads to life 9:11
Eternal Life
- “The righteous finds refuge in his death” 14:32
- Prudent will not experience Sheol 15:24
- Upright will inherit the land 2:22, and wicked will be removed from it (10:30).

NT and Proverbs
- Wisdom doesn’t represent Christ in 8:22 for it is created, but Jesus is greater than
wisdom as the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24, 30; Col. 2:3).
- Earthly riches and blessings point to eternal blessings and riches.