God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 8:23
23I was appointed from everlasting from the first, before the earth began.
Proverbs 8:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
- New International Version (NIV)I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
Context of Proverbs 8:23
21to give an inheritance to those who love me and to fill their treasuries. 22“The Lord already possessed me long ago, when his way began, before any of his works. I was appointed from everlasting from the first, before the earth began. 24I was born before there were oceans, before there were springs filled with water. 25I was born before the mountains were settled in their places and before the hills,
Read all of Proverbs 8Proverbs 8:23 word by word
מֵ֭עוֹלָם נִסַּ֥כְתִּי מֵרֹ֗אשׁ מִקַּדְמֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 8:23
- Genesis 1:26Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”
- Psalms 2:6“I have installed my own king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
- Micah 5:2You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are too small to be included among Judah’s cities. Yet, from you Israel’s future ruler will come for me. His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago.
- John 17:24“Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me, to be where I am. I want them to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the world was made.
- Ephesians 1:10He planned to bring all of history to its goal in Christ. Then Christ would be the head of everything in heaven and on earth.
- 1 John 1:1The Word of life existed from the beginning. We have heard it. We have seen it. We observed and touched it.
Commentaries on Proverbs 8:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23I was set up from everlasting - נסכתי nissachti, "I was diffused or poured out," from נסך nasach, "to diffuse, pour abroad, as a spirit or disposition," Isaiah 29:10. See Parkhurst. Or from סך sach, "to cover, overspread, smear over, as with oil;" to be anointed king. Hence some have translated it, principatum habui, I had the principality, or was a ruler, governor, and director, from eternity. All the schemes, plans, and circumstances, relative to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23I was set up - Rather, “I was anointed” (compare Psalm 2:6 margin: 2 Chronicles 28:15). The image is that of Wisdom anointed, as at her birth, with “the oil of gladness.” Or ever the earth was - literally, “from the times before the earth.”Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-31Verses 22-31 The Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in the creation of the world. How able, how fit is the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world, who was the Creator of it! The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work. Does he delight in saving wretched sinners, and shall not we delight in his salvation?Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-25created me as His first course, before His works of old...From everlasting I was established: God's wisdom has always been. Here, wisdom is shown as a person, but it is not an actual person. Wisdom is part of God's character and nature. Unlike pagan gods, God does not need an outside advisor (see Isaiah 40:13–14). Jesus is the highest point of God's wisdom (see Colossians 1:15–17; 2:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-3122-31. Strictly, God's attributes are part of Himself. Yet, to the poetical structure of the whole passage, this commendation of wisdom is entirely consonant. In order of time all His attributes are coincident and eternal as Himself. But to set forth the importance of wisdom as devising the products of benevolence and power, it is here assigned a precedence. As it has such in divine, so should it be desired in human, affairs (compare Pr 3:19)…Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 8:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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