Proverbs 8:23

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

I was set up {H5258} from everlasting {H5769}, from the beginning {H7218}, or ever {H6924} the earth {H776} was.

I was appointed before the world, before the start, before the earth's beginnings.

From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.

Commentary

Proverbs 8:23 is a profound statement from the book of Proverbs, where Wisdom is personified as a female figure speaking of her eternal origins and her role in creation. This verse, "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was," emphasizes Wisdom's primordial existence, prior to the formation of the world.

Context of Proverbs 8

This verse is part of a lengthy discourse in Proverbs Chapter 8, where Wisdom calls out to humanity, presenting herself as supremely valuable and essential for life. She describes her presence at the very foundation of the cosmos, contrasting with the fleeting nature of human understanding. The preceding verse, Proverbs 8:22, states, "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old," setting the stage for Wisdom's eternal claim.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Pre-existence of Wisdom: The verse unequivocally declares that Wisdom existed "from everlasting, from the beginning," before anything in the material world was created. This highlights her timeless, uncreated nature.
  • Divine Origin: Wisdom is not merely a human attribute but is deeply rooted in the very being of God. She is an inherent quality of the divine, existing before time and space.
  • Foundation of Creation: By stating "or ever the earth was," Wisdom asserts her presence and perhaps even her instrumental role in the creative act. This suggests that the universe was formed according to divine wisdom and order, echoing the opening of Genesis 1:1.
  • Personification and Christological Interpretation: While Wisdom is a literary personification, many Christian commentators see this passage as a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. The Apostle John, in John 1:1-3, speaks of the "Word" (Logos in Greek), who was "in the beginning with God" and "all things were made by him." Similarly, Paul describes Christ as "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature," through whom all things were created (Colossians 1:16). This aligns with the idea of Christ embodying God's wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "I was set up" translates the Hebrew word nasak (נָסַךְ). This word carries several nuances, including "to install," "to establish," "to appoint," or even "to anoint." It implies a firm and foundational establishment, suggesting that Wisdom was not merely present but was firmly established or inaugurated from eternity. This highlights her fundamental and unshakeable position in God's plan and creation.

Practical Application and Significance

Proverbs 8:23 challenges us to consider the profound depth and eternal nature of divine wisdom. For believers, understanding that God's wisdom existed before all things provides a solid foundation for faith and trust. It assures us that the universe is not a product of chance but was fashioned with ultimate intelligence and purpose. Seeking this divine wisdom, therefore, is paramount for navigating life, as it connects us to the very source of truth and order. This verse underscores the importance of valuing and pursuing wisdom over fleeting worldly pursuits, recognizing its eternal worth and divine origin.

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Cross-References

  • John 17:24 (8 votes)

    Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

  • Micah 5:2 (6 votes)

    But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.

  • Psalms 2:6 (6 votes)

    Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

  • Genesis 1:26 (5 votes)

    ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

  • 1 John 1:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

  • 1 John 1:2 (4 votes)

    (For the life was manifested, and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

  • John 17:5 (4 votes)

    And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.