Proverbs 9:10

Context

Proverbs 1–9 is a collection of instructions in which a father urges his son to follow wisdom. Chapter 9 consists of two contrasting scenes. In verses 1–6, Wisdom, having built her house and prepared a feast, calls to the simple; in verses 13–18, the "foolish woman" lures the same people into her own house. Between these scenes, verses 7–12 present short sayings that contrast the scorner with the wise. Verse 10 stands at the center of these sayings.

The verse forms a pair with Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." For this reason, many interpreters see the two verses as a frame enclosing the whole of chapters 1–9. Here "fear" denotes an attitude that combines fear of God with reverence for and service to Him, while "understanding" denotes the insight to discern clearly what is right and reasonable.

Interpretation

• Old Testament wisdom literature scholarship: Wisdom is not regarded as practical worldly savvy detached from God. Rather, it is understood as a skill for living that begins in a relationship with God. "Beginning" is taken to mean both the starting point from which wisdom arises and the foundation on which it continually rests.
• Reformed tradition: Reformed theologians tend to cite this verse in support of the view that all knowledge must begin with the acknowledgment of God. It is frequently quoted in discussions of the Christian worldview and Christian education.
• Christological reading: This reading draws attention to the New Testament's description of Christ as "the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24). It connects the wisdom of Proverbs with Jesus Christ and extends "the knowledge of the holy" to mean knowing Christ. This interpretation goes back to the Church Fathers of the early church.

Debates and Issues

The verse is not the subject of significant disagreement among denominations. A few questions, however, have been raised.

• Translation: Although "beginning" appears in both 1:7 and 9:10, the Hebrew original uses different words in the two verses. The word in 9:10 is said to convey the sense of "starting point" more clearly. "The Holy One" is plural in the original, but it is usually understood as a plural expressing reverence for God and is translated in the singular. The Revised New Korean Standard Version renders the divine name, given in older Korean versions as "Jehovah" (Yeohowa), as "the Lord" (Junim).
• Quotation out of context: The verse is sometimes used as though it were the secret to academic success or passing examinations. In response, some point out that its original context concerns forsaking folly and scorn and living rightly. Others caution against reading the promise of long life in the next verse, verse 11, as a guarantee of prosperity.

In the Korean Church

The verse is frequently cited at occasions such as school entrance and graduation services and prayer meetings for students preparing for examinations. It is also reportedly used in the mottoes and slogans of Christian schools. In Sunday school, it is often assigned as a Scripture memorization verse.

Related Passages

• Proverbs 1:7 — the verse paired with 9:10
• Psalm 111:10 — an almost identical confession
• Job 28:28 — the statement that the fear of the Lord is wisdom
• 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 — Christ, the wisdom of God