Proverbs 8:23

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 endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. 22“The Lord created me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. From eternity I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. 24When there were no ocean depths, I was born, When there were no springs abounding with water. 25Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was born;

Proverbs 8:23 word by word

מֵ֭עוֹלָם נִסַּ֥כְתִּי מֵרֹ֗אשׁ מִקַּדְמֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear

• From eternityעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: antiquityH5769
• establishedנָסַךְnâsak · to installH5258
• From the beginningרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: firstH7218
• from the earliestקֶ֫דֶםqedem qêdmâh · EastH6924
• of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776

Cross-references for Proverbs 8:23

• Genesis 1:26Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.”
• Psalms 2:6“But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
• Micah 5:2But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”
• John 17:24Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
• Ephesians 1:10regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.
• 1 John 1:1What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life--

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

• Earth
• God
• Jesus Continued
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Appoint
• Choice
• Delight
• Depth
• Early
• Instruction
• Rule
• Truth
• Ethics
• Gnosticism

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