New Living Translation
Proverbs 8:23
23I was appointed in ages past, at the very 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
21Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries. 22“The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. 24I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. 25Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—
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 human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
- Psalms 2:6For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
- Micah 5:2But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
- John 17:24Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
- Ephesians 1:10And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
- 1 John 1:1We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is 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
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
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