Proverbs 8:22

Proverbs 8:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.

Context of Proverbs 8:22

20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; 23I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. 24When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water;

Proverbs 8:22 word by word

יְֽהוָ֗ה קָ֭נָנִי רֵאשִׁ֣ית דַּרְכּ֑וֹ קֶ֖דֶם מִפְעָלָ֣יו מֵאָֽז׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• possessedקָנָהqânâh · to buyH7069
• me in the beginningרֵאשִׁיתrê'shîyth · first: beginningH7225
• of his wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• beforeקֶ֫דֶםqedem qêdmâh · front: oldH6924
• his worksמִפְעָלmiph‛âl miph‛âlâh · workH4659

Cross-references for Proverbs 8:22

• Proverbs 3:19By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
• John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• Colossians 1:17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Commentaries on Proverbs 8:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way - Wisdom is not acquired by the Divine Being; man, and even angels, learn it by slow and progressive degrees; but in God it is as eternally inherent as any other essential attribute of his nature. The Targum makes this wisdom a creature, by thus translating the passage: בריתיה בריש בראני אלהא Elaha barani bereish biriteiah, "God created me in the beginning of his creatures." The Syriac is the same. This is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22A verse which has played an important part in the history of Christian dogma. Wisdom reveals herself as preceding all creation, stamped upon it all, one with God, yet in some way distinguishable from Him as the object of His love Proverbs 8:30. John declares that all which Wisdom here speaks of herself was true in its highest sense of the Word that became flesh John 1:1-14: just as Apostles afterward applied Wisd. 7:22-30 to Christ (compare Colossians…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 8:22

• Earth
• 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