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Proverbs 3 · a question people ask

Who is "she" in 3:13-18?

In the text

Wisdom. "Happy is the man who finds wisdom" (3:13), and "She is more precious than rubies" (3:15). The chapter speaks of wisdom as "she", with a right hand and a left (3:16) and paths that are peace (3:17). Then it says, "By wisdom the LORD founded the earth" (3:19). The book speaks of wisdom this way elsewhere too: "Wisdom calls aloud in the street" (1:20), and in chapter 8 Wisdom speaks of the beginning: "When he established the heavens, I was there" (8:27). Christians read the Wisdom of chapter 8 in more than one way, and chapter 8's honest question will set out the main readings, each resting on its verses. This chapter doesn't settle it, and these notes don't either.

The verses

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.”
Proverbs 3:13 · World English Bible
“She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.”
Proverbs 3:15-17 · World English Bible
“By wisdom the LORD founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.”
Proverbs 3:19 · World English Bible
“Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.”
Proverbs 1:20 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3: Trust in the LORD with all your heart

"In all your ways acknowledge him" (3:6) uses the Hebrew verb for know. And six verses after "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding" (3:13), the chapter says the LORD founded the earth and established the heavens by those same two, wisdom and understanding (3:19).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions