Proverbs 8:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

NIV: I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

NASB: When He established the heavens, I was there; When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

CSB: I was there when he established the heavens, when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,

NLT: I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.

KJV: When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

NKJV: When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,

God possessed wisdom before He established the heavens and stretched the sky over the horizon. Job 22:14 says God walks on the vault of heaven. "Vault" in that part of Job is another way of referring to the "circle" referenced in this verse. This continues Solomon's poetic depiction of wisdom, calling out to mankind (Proverbs 8:1–4), and declaring a history longer than that of creation (Proverbs 8:22–26).

The sky above with its clouds has covered the earth for ages and has fascinated meteorologists. Jesus referred to the sky in Matthew 16. When the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Him for a sign from heaven, Jesus replied: "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:2–3). Sky watchers would do well to look by faith beyond the sky to see the one who created all things, including the sky (Psalm 19:1).

Proverbs 8:22–31 pays tribute to wisdom as having existed from the very beginning of beginnings. In this chapter, wisdom speaks as a woman, in a poetic style used by Solomon. Since the wisdom in question is godly truth, rooted in the knowledge and nature of God, that wisdom predates the creation of the world and everything in it. Like God's goodness and justice, His wisdom has always been part of who He is and how He creates.

In this passage, wisdom is once again imagined as a woman who cries out to be heard (Proverbs 1:20–21). Wisdom extols her own truth and value. Wisdom was part of God's creative power long before even the creation of the universe. The chapter again returns to the many benefits of godly wisdom, before completing those declarations at the start of the next chapter.

Thus far in Proverbs, Solomon has spoken about the virtues of wisdom and the need to acquire it and live by it. He has also warned about the dangers of rejecting wisdom. Chapter 7 ended with a description of a promiscuous woman seducing a foolish young man. Now, in chapter 8, he lets wisdom speak, once again personified as a woman. She speaks about her existence before creation and her gift of life to all who find her. This analogy continues into chapter 9.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.

Accessed 5/3/2024 4:16:17 AM