Proverbs 1:20

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 1:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;
Proverbs 1:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Some interpreters regard this address as the language of the Son of God under the name of Wisdom (compare Luk 11:49). Others think that wisdom, as the divine attribute specially employed in acts of counsel and admonition, is here personified, and represents God. In either case the address is a most solemn and divine admonition, whose matter and spirit are eminently evangelical and impressive (see on Pro 8:1). Wisdom--literally, "Wisdoms," the plural used either because of the unusual sense, or as indicative of the great excellency of wisdom (compare Pro 9:1). streets--or most public places, not secretly.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Wisdom is personified. In the Hebrew the noun is a feminine plural, as though this Wisdom were the queen of all wisdoms, uniting in herself all their excellences. She lifts up her voice, not in solitude, but in the haunts of men “without,” i. e., outside the walls, in the streets, at the highest point of all places of concourse, in the open space of the gates where the elders meet and the king sits in judgment, in the heart of the city itself Proverbs 1:21; through sages, lawgivers, teachers, and yet more through life and its experiences, she preaches to mankind. Socrates said that the fields and the trees taught him nothing, but that he found the wisdom he was seeking in his converse with…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Wisdom - Having expressed the counsels of wicked men, he now declares the voice of wisdom. By wisdom he understands the wisdom of God revealed to men in his word. And this is said to cry with a loud voice, to intimate God's earnestness in inviting sinners to repentance. Abroad - Or, in the streets or open places. Not in corners, but openly before all the world. Proverbs 1:21”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:20-33 The author personifies wisdom as a woman (the Hebrew noun translated wisdom, khokmah, is grammatically feminine) and encourages his son to embrace her (see 3:18; 8:1–9:6).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Wisdom: Heb. Wisdoms, that is, excellent wisdom, Mat 13:54; Luk 11:49; Co1 1:24, Co1 1:30; Col 2:3 crieth: Pro 8:1-5, Pro 9:3; Joh 7:37 Proverbs 1:21”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Looking to its form and vocalization, חכמות may be an Aramaizing abstract formation (Gesen.; Ew. 165, c; Olsh. 219, b); for although the forms אחות and גּלות are of a different origin, yet in רבּות and הוללות such abstract formations lie before us. The termination ûth is here, by the passing over of the u into the less obscure but more intensive o (cf. יהו in the beginning and middle of the word, and יהוּ יהו at the end of the word), raised to ôth, and thereby is brought near to the fem. plur. (cf. חכמות, Pro 14:1, sapientia, as our plur. of the neut. sapiens, חכמה), approaching to the abstract. On the other hand, that חכמות is sing. of abstract signification, is not decisively denoted by…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification