Proverbs
Title: “Proverbs” comes from the first word in Hebrew. Mashal means a “comparison, likeness, or illustration.” The Hebrew word for “proverb” conveys a wide range of meanings, including the idea of comparison, a code of behavior, and the discovery of hidden truth. The proverb was designed to teach truth in a concentrated form. Proverbs are idioms, distinctive in style, that uniquely reflect the heart and life of the Jewish people. Proverbs (comparisons) are written in units (usually of two), the second segment either clarifying or contrasting (the first. They are self-explanatory and self-illustrative.
Author: Solomon wrote most of the book and others contributed too ( 1 Kings 3-4; 2 Chronicles. 9:1-24) . The other writers are Agur son of Jakeh and King Lemuel lived in the area of Ur (31:1-31). The authors lay lay a philosophy of life behind each proverb, steeped in pragmatism, giving it powerful influence in Israel. The proverbs were designed to:1. Arrest the reader’s attention [listen]2. Awaken responsive thought [think]3. Adhere to the memory [remember]4. Apply to life [practice]
Date: Solomon (970-931 BC) and Agur and Lemuel ( 7th century BC). So it would be completed in 7th Century BC.
Purpose: Proverbs.1:2-6. Revering and trusting the Lord is the key pathway of gaining wisdom. Fivefold purposes
1.“to attain wisdom and discipline,”
2.“to understand words of insight,”
3.“to acquire a disciplined and prudent life,”
4.“to give prudence to the simple,”
5.“to understand proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.”
Meaning of words
Wisdom (ability, knowledge of essence of things; reality of existence). Instruction, training, discipline(moral instruction, self-government) Understanding, insight (discern between good and evil, common sense) Wise behavior, dealing (good sense, practical wisdom, [to success]) Prudence, subtlety, shrewdness (clever, sensible) Knowledge (general term, utilizes senses, knowledge of truth, God) Discretion (wise planning, scheming, management) Learning (doctrine that is given, received or grasped) Guidance (“steerings,” rules of conduct) equipped to deal with life
Five Styles of Proverbs
- Synonymous parallelism as in 18:7 where the same thought is placed in parallel.
- Antithetic proverb (13:9) where one parallel is set in contrast to the other.
- Synthetic proverb (10:26) where the second line completes the thought of the first.
- Emblematic proverb (3:12) in which the symbol is created through a word picture.
- Introverted proverb where there is parallelism between the lines (1 and 4, 2 and 3).
Key Theme: 1:7.
Key Word: The word ‘wisdom’ occurs 37 times in Proverbs and indicates an informed, skilful use of knowledge through trusting in and reverence for the Lord that a person can enter into wisdom. The wisdom personified in Proverbs not as abstract but in concrete terms. The wisdom is personified as Jesus ( Prov.8:1-9:6; Luke.11:49; 1 Cor.1:24, 30; Prov.8:22-23; John 17:5)
Theology:
1. The Sovereignty of God.(16:4, 9; 19:21; 22:2). 2. The Omniscience of God (15:31; 11; 21:2). 3. God as Creator (14:31; 17:5; 20:12). 4. The reign of God in ethics (10:27, 29; 12:2). 5. The Judgement of God (15:11; 16:2; 17:3; 20:27). 6. Character (11:4; 12:11; 14:23; 17:13; 22:4).
Outlines
I. Introduction (1:1-7)
II. Thirteen Lessons on Wisdom (1:8-9:18)
1. (1:8-33)
2. (2:1-22)
3. (3:1-10)
4. (3:11-20)
5. (3:21-35)
6. (4:1-9)
7. (4:10-19)
8. (4:20-27)
9. (5:1-23)
10. (6:1-19)
11. (6:20-35)
12. (7:1-27)
13. (8:1-36)
14. Summary of 13 lessons - The call of wisdom and folly (9:1-18)
III. The Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16)
IV. The Sayings of the Wise Men (22:17-24:34)
V. The Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah’s Men (chaps. 25-29)
VI. The Words of Agur (chap. 30)
VII. The Words of Lemuel (31:1-9)
VIII. The Noble Wife (31:10-31)