Study notes

Proverbs 1

Introducing ProverbsWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

1:1

Solomon is the authority on Israelite wisdom (see 1 Kings 3:1–28; 4:32). Many proverbs are attributed to Solomon, but he did not write all of them (see Proverbs 22:17; 24:23; 25:1; 30:1; 31:1).

1:1–7 Section

The purpose of a proverb is to teach wisdom. The purpose of the book of Proverbs is to instruct people about how to live well.

Living well means living wisely. Living wisely means doing what is right and honest and fair. This is because wisdom is based on respecting God. God taught the Israelites (Israel) how to do what is right and honest and fair. He taught them this through the Law of Moses.

Knowing God’s laws isn’t the only way to understand what is right and honest and fair. This can also be learnt by listening to what wise people say. Wise people have skill, knowledge and understanding. But respecting the Lord is more important than any of those things. Respecting God is how people start to become wise and to live well.

1:2–3

Wisdom is practical knowledge that involves ethical choices. Words like right, just, and fair are associated with biblical wisdom. Gaining wisdom requires discipline, which means actively and intentionally training yourself toward wisdom and away from foolishness. The book of Proverbs encourages us to resist our natural sinful tendencies toward wrong behavior.

1:2–7

This introduction explains the book's purpose and identifies the different audiences it addresses.

1:4

Simple people are like empty containers. Wisdom and foolishness compete to fill their minds and hearts (see Proverbs 9:1–18).

1:6

Proverbs help wise people understand riddles. Here the Hebrew word (khidoth) means enigmas or paradoxes—difficult sayings that need interpretation (see Judges 14:14).

1:7

Fear of the Lord means relying completely on God for everything, including knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). It is not just a way of thinking; it involves serving, loving, and obeying God’s laws (see Deuteronomy 10:12–13). Fear of the Lord is the basis of all knowledge. How can we understand life without knowing its most basic truth—that God created it?

1:8–19

In the book of Proverbs, there are two paths (Proverbs 1:15):

A wise and just path
A foolish and evil path

The parents represent the wise path and encourage their child to follow it.

1:8

my son: Like other wisdom literature from the ancient Near East, much of Proverbs 1–9 contains a father's (and sometimes a mother's) advice to a son. Since the son is learning his father's job, much of the teaching is about the son's future work. Some translations (like The New Living Translation) often use the term child because the lessons apply to both sons and daughters.

1:8–9:18 Section

In this section of the book of Proverbs, a father speaks to his son. The father and the mother have taught the son how to live well. They have taught him with their words and with the example of how they live. The father urges the son to live according to what they have taught him.

The advice from the parents is about many things. It’s about being humble and trusting God completely. It’s about the son guarding his heart. The son’s heart is where he makes decisions. The advice is about the son saying no when he is tempted to do evil. This includes stealing and getting rich in ways that aren’t honest. It includes refusing to share with others. It includes lying, being jealous and having sex with another man’s wife.

The advice is also about becoming wise. People begin to be wise when they respect God. Wisdom is something that God gives. He wants all human beings to have it. God gives wisdom freely to those who ask for it. This is made clear in the poems about wisdom and in James 1:5.

Wisdom is described as a woman who calls out to everyone in public. She invites everyone to come to her house and share in a feast. This means that people listen to wisdom and obey wise teachings. That is how people get wisdom. Obeying wise instructions leads to health, riches, success and honour. That is the pattern of life that the parents have noticed. That is the pattern they want their son’s life to follow.

Wisdom is also described as the first thing that God created. Wisdom was with God when he created the world. Wisdom was full of joy and delight as God created the world and all people. This shows that wisdom can also be learnt by studying creation.

The poems about wisdom talk about foolishness being the opposite of wisdom. Foolishness is described as a woman who knows nothing and is full of pride. She treats others badly. Like wisdom, foolishness also calls out to everyone and invites them to a feast. But obeying her instructions leads to danger, suffering, trouble, shame and death.

1:9

garland of grace… pendant: Ornaments often symbolize wisdom and its rewards (see also Proverbs 3:22; 4:9). This imagery encourages people to seek wisdom with effort.

1:10–19

The father warns his child not to join a group of wrongdoers planning to attack innocent people. Their evil actions will eventually harm them (see Proverbs 28:10; Psalms 9:15; 35:8). The evil path involves violence and theft.

1:12

like Sheol: In the Old Testament, Sheol is the place of the dead. It is not always associated with punishment.

1:17–19

Birds avoid obvious traps, but greedy people do not. When they choose violence and robbery, they risk losing their lives violently. They might die during the crime or be punished with death if caught. Even if wrongdoers succeed until they die, they will experience judgment after death, while the righteous will be with God (see Psalm 1).

1:20–33

The author describes wisdom as a woman. In Hebrew, the word for wisdom, khokmah, is grammatically feminine. The author encourages his son to embrace wisdom (see Proverbs 3:18; 8:1–9:6).

1:22

Proverbs uses three main words to describe those who lack God's wisdom:

Simple ones (Hebrew pethim) have not rejected God's wisdom and are most open to correction (see Proverbs 1:4).
Fools (Hebrew kesilim) have heard God's wisdom but resist it.
Scoffers (Hebrew latsonim) not only resist wisdom but also ridicule it.

1:23

Wisdom invites all three groups to come so she can make them wise (Proverbs 1:22). Having a close relationship with Wisdom means beginning a close relationship with God, which is the basis of true knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; see Job 28).

1:24–27

you neglected all my counsel: This is like ignoring God's call (see Psalm 14). God calls us through:

creation (Psalm 8; Romans 1:18–20)
Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21)