Wisdom and Fear in Proverbs

The two primary themes of Proverbs are introduced at the very beginning of the book. Let’s look at how the themes of wisdom and the fear of the Lord set the stage for the rest of the book. We’ll be using introductory and study notes from the Reformation Study Bible (NKJV).

The two primary themes of the book of Proverbs are wisdom and the fear of the Lord. In short, wisdom is the skill to survive and thrive by living in accordance with the order that God has established in his world. The fear of the Lord is living in accordance with the principles manifest in His Word and world because we stand in awe of Him and trust Him as our God.

Introduction to Proverbs

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.” Proverbs 1:1

The introduction to the book, with v. 1 as the title, vv. 2–6 as the purpose, and v. 7 as the theme.

The Hb. word translated as “proverb” has a range of meanings. It is usually applied to an aphorism or maxim in a wisdom context. The prologue (1:1–7) applies to the whole book and the variety of wisdom sayings it contains, all broadly classified as “proverbs.”

Although Solomon wrote many proverbs (1 Kin. 4:32), the words of sages other than Solomon are included under this heading (e.g., Agur, 30:1; and Lemuel, 31:1). Even in the materials attributed to Solomon, something other than direct authorship may at times be involved. Note that the “words of King Lemuel” were not authored by Lemuel but taught to him by his mother and then associated with Lemuel. So, too, at least some of the “proverbs of Solomon” could have been taught to him by others and then associated with him as Israel’s quintessential wise man. The roots of proverbial traditions in folk experience make it unlikely that Solomon was the exclusive originator of all the proverbs he put into writing.

Wisdom was a royal enterprise in the ancient Near East. The queen of Sheba came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom (1 Kin. 10:1) and the “men of Hezekiah king of Judah” copied some of the proverbs (Prov. 25:1).

The Purpose of Proverbs

To know wisdom and instruction,

To perceive the words of understanding,

To receive the instruction of wisdom,

Justice, judgment, and equity;

To give prudence to the simple,

To the young man knowledge and discretion—

Proverbs 1:2–4

1:2 wisdom. The purpose of Proverbs is to guide the reader into wisdom, a word with many nuances. It refers fundamentally to living in keeping with the order that God built into the world so as to survive and thrive. James 3:15–18 distinguishes heavenly wisdom from earthly wisdom; the former is defined very much in terms of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, while the latter is the opposite.

instruction. The word suggests moral and intellectual discipline. It often means the learning of wisdom.

understanding. Or discernment, the ability to read between the lines and make correct distinctions.

1:3 Justice, judgment, and equity. These words can be used in religious and ethical contexts as well as in temporal affairs. At times, biblical wisdom shows concern with worldly matters, but it always does so within the framework of divine design in the created order.

1:4 prudence. Sound judgment.

simple. The word is paralleled in this verse by “young man”; it refers to those who are untutored, inexperienced, and easily deceived (1:10), not to those lacking intellectual powers. Wisdom is a matter of practical godliness.

discretion. The word suggests making right decisions with understanding.

A wise man will hear and increase learning,

And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

To understand a proverb and an enigma,

The words of the wise and their riddles. Proverbs 1:5–6

1:5 increase. Wisdom was institutionalized in the ancient culture in that the wise called upon people to improve their wisdom. Succeeding generations were to learn from those who went before them (v. 8). Note the typical parallel structure of this verse in which almost synonymous phrases are joined.

wise counsel. This Hb. word, used only in Proverbs and Job, highlights the importance of right thinking and experience in decision making.

1:6 These different words may be used synonymously, as in Hab. 2:6, but probably here they are distinct forms of wisdom sayings, having as a common characteristic an enigma that challenges the intellect.

enigma. Sometimes rendered “parable.” The parables of Jesus are somewhat different from what is found in the book of Proverbs, although they show the influence of Wisdom Literature.

riddles. Probably a broad but identifiable type of wisdom literature. The word is used of Samson’s riddle (Judg. 14:12–19), of an allegory (Ezek. 17:2), and of the sayings used to test Solomon (1 Kin. 10:1).

The Theme of Proverbs

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7

The main theme of Proverbs and ancient Israel’s decisive contribution to the human quest for knowledge and understanding. The fear of the Lord is the only basis of true knowledge. This fear is not distrustful terror of God but rather the reverent awe and worshipful response of faith to the God who reveals Himself as the Creator, the Savior, and the Judge.

Although Israel’s covenant relationship with God receives little overt attention in Proverbs, the use of the divine name most closely associated with the covenant, “LORD” (Yahweh), is significant. It indicates that God’s redemptive covenant with His people and the special revelation that accompany it are foundational for true wisdom. In Deuteronomy, “fear the LORD” means living by the stipulations of the covenant in grateful response to God’s redemptive grace (Deut. 6:2, 24). The temple built by Solomon later became the visible expression of Israel’s covenant relationship with the Lord, which again is described as the “fear” of the Lord (1 Kin. 8:40, 43). There is an important link through Solomon and the temple between biblical wisdom and the covenant theology found elsewhere in the OT.

The beginning of knowledge in Hebrew means either the starting point of knowledge or its best part. The former is in view here, not as in a starting point that one leaves behind, but as in mathematics, where one uses the numbers learned at the beginning in all of the later courses. While in His common grace God enables unbelievers to know much about the world, only the fear of the Lord enables one to know what anything means ultimately. Relying on this light, wisdom pursues the task of reflecting on human experience.

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