Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 9

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 9 Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee—The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom—The guests of an immoral woman are in the depths of hell.
1 ^aWISDOM hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars^a: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,	1^a her seven pillars Wisdom is referenced as a 'she' or female. This is likely because wisdom doeth 'multiply' as in has children and/or increase. In terms of multiplying Intelligence, it is spoken that whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto here, it riseth with us in the resurrection and the more we attain to here and have increased, the more the advantage to us in the life to come. Thus it has the concept of 'increase' in the attainment of the wisdom of 'the light of truth'. As to the 'seven pillars' and what they might be there is a couple of possibilities. Seven is a representative number in Hebrew which can represent 'many' or 'endless' number of. Also there are 7 thousand years as to the earthly plan of salvation, seven periods or days of creation, seven lamps of the Menorah (which may be relatively significant) and there is even the seven churches of the early Christian Church. All these are of the significant and holy or divine number of seven and can further imply eternity as well. There are any number of suggestive listings of what those pillars may be in terms of specific traits, including even a book concerning T.E. Lawrence of Arabia. One such example follows: From Proverbs 8:12-14 is suggested: Prudence, Knowledge, Fear of the LORD (to hate evil/pride or be humble - just), Counsel, Sound Wisdom, Understanding, and Strength. Perhaps the last 'strength' has to do with having the strength of character to live by the principles of wisdom, for wisdom of itself does not guarantee doing and making the correct choices or actions in one's doing. For all of Solomon's wisdom he failed in his 'doing' of living by the principles of wisdom that he himself understood and knew to be true.	1^a Alma 26:35
4 Whoso is ^asimple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 ^aCome, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the ^afoolish, and live; and go in the way of ^bunderstanding.		4^a D&C 1:23 5^a Wisdom prepares her feast and invites participants 6^a D&C 66:10 ^b Prov. 6:32
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 ^aReprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will ^blove thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: ^ateach a just man, and he will ^bincrease in ^clearning.		8^a TG Chastening ^b Ps 141:5 9^a TG Teaching ^b Matt. 13:12 (11-12); D&C 88:118 ^c TG Learning
10 The ^afear of the LORD is the beginning of ^bwisdom: and the ^cknowledge of the ^dholy is ^eunderstanding. 11 For by me thy ^adays shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be ^awise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt ^bbear it.		10^a TG Reverence ^b TG Wisdom ^c Prov. 30:3 ^d TG Holiness ^e TG Understanding 11^a 1 Ne. 17:55; Mosiah 14:10 12^a Job 35:7 (6-8) ^b Gal. 6:5 (4-5)
13 ¶ A foolish ^awoman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:		13^a TG Woman
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of ^ahell.		18^a Alma 12:11; D&C 29:38; D&C 76:84 (84-86)