Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
Before the mountains {H2022} were settled {H2883}, before {H6440} the hills {H1389} was I brought forth {H2342}:
I was brought forth before the hills, before the mountains had settled in place;
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;
-
Psalms 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God. -
Job 38:4
¶ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. -
Job 38:11
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? -
Psalms 102:25
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work of thy hands. -
Psalms 102:28
The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. -
Job 15:7
[Art] thou the first man [that] was born? or wast thou made before the hills? -
Job 15:8
Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?
Proverbs 8:25 is a profound declaration from the personified figure of Wisdom, emphasizing her ancient and pre-existent nature before the physical world was fully formed. This verse, part of a larger soliloquy by Wisdom in Proverbs chapter 8, highlights her foundational role in creation and her eternal presence with God.
Context
This verse is situated within Proverbs 8:22-31, where Wisdom speaks of her origins and her participation in the divine act of creation. She describes herself as being "brought forth" or "established" long before the earth's features, like mountains and hills, were settled into place. This passage sets Wisdom apart from created things, asserting her pre-existence alongside God, the Creator. It paints a picture of a universe designed and ordered by divine wisdom, not by chance.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "was I brought forth" comes from the Hebrew word ḥûl (חול), which can mean to writhe, travail, bring forth, or be born. In this context, it signifies a divine, eternal procession or establishment, emphasizing Wisdom's timeless origin rather than a temporal birth. It suggests an emanation or being established from eternity, not a created beginning in time. The term "settled" (Hebrew: tuqqan, תקן) indicates that the mountains and hills were firmly established and prepared, highlighting the contrast between their temporal formation and Wisdom's eternal existence.
Practical Application
Proverbs 8:25 encourages believers to recognize the profound and eternal nature of God's wisdom. Since wisdom existed before all creation, it is the ultimate source of order, meaning, and truth in the universe. For us, this means: