Difference between revisions of "Book of Proverbs" - New World Encyclopedia
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The central theme to the book of Proverbs can be linked to Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." This theme of centrality of the knowledge of God runs through the entirety of the book. The instructions that are given, although they are for everyday circumstances, allude to humankind’s uprightness before God. The thought pattern that the reverence and respect for God in all circumstances brings true knowledge is encouraged in this book. The book centers on the willingness to learn as important. God’s people were brought into the belief that God’s law is something that is part of life and is a duty, and this required obedience. Proverbs calls this kind of obedience the fear of the Lord. This obligation, which is similar to the knowledge of God that they had from the prophetic books, involves reverence, gratitude, and commitment to do the will of God in every circumstance. The main goal of Proverbs is to define clearly what it means to be fully devoted to God’s will and seeing his will accomplished in this world. | The central theme to the book of Proverbs can be linked to Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." This theme of centrality of the knowledge of God runs through the entirety of the book. The instructions that are given, although they are for everyday circumstances, allude to humankind’s uprightness before God. The thought pattern that the reverence and respect for God in all circumstances brings true knowledge is encouraged in this book. The book centers on the willingness to learn as important. God’s people were brought into the belief that God’s law is something that is part of life and is a duty, and this required obedience. Proverbs calls this kind of obedience the fear of the Lord. This obligation, which is similar to the knowledge of God that they had from the prophetic books, involves reverence, gratitude, and commitment to do the will of God in every circumstance. The main goal of Proverbs is to define clearly what it means to be fully devoted to God’s will and seeing his will accomplished in this world. | ||
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| + | A second theme is that obedience to God's law will bring His blessing, while disobedience will result in disaster. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 15:14, 16 July 2008
| Books of the |
| Tanakh Torah | Nevi'im | Ketuvim Books of Ketuvim |
| Three Poetic Books |
| 1. Psalms |
| 2. Proverbs |
| 3. Job |
| Five Megillot |
| 4. Song of Songs |
| 5. Ruth |
| 6. Lamentations |
| 7. Ecclesiastes |
| 8. Esther |
| Other Books |
| 9. Daniel |
| 10. Ezra-Nehemiah |
| 11. Chronicles |
The Book of Proverbs is one of the books of the Ketuvim of the Tanakh and of the Writings of the Old Testament.
Title and authorship
The original Hebrew title of the book of Proverbs is "Míshlê Shlomoh" ("Proverbs of Solomon"). Greek In the Greek Septuagint version the title became "paroimai paroimiae" ("Proverbs"). In the Latin vulgate the title was "proverbial," from which the English title of Proverbs is derived.
The actual authorship of Proverbs has been a matter of controversy. Today, the the book is generally recognized as a collection of wisdom poetry and aphorisms by various authors. These were later collected and assigned to Solomon, whose name appears in Proverbs 1:1: "The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, King of Israel." However, few commentators today believe that he was the author of each separate proverb in the book, and his authorship of any of them is questioned by critical scholars. It was often the custom to attribute a writing to the King or another person of prominence in order to honor them, or to give those writings more prestige.
Solomon is portrayed in the Bible as well as in extra-biblical literature as a king of extensive and supreme wisdom. In 1 Kings 4:29-34, 3000 proverbs and over 1000 songs are said to have been written by him. People reportedly came from all over the world to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Among those who accept this view of Solomon, the general assumption is that he authored at least some of the Book of Proverbs, but that the book was not solely his work. One reason for this admission is other names than Solomon's are linked to other sections of the book. There is also other evidence that several sources were combined into the current work creating elements of disunity that suggest more than one author even beyond those specifically mentioned.
The text itself contains at least eight specific instances where authorship is mentioned:
| Proverbs | Authors/Collectors |
| 1:1 | Solomon |
| 10:1 | Solomon |
| 25:1 | Solomon (as copied by Hezekiah’s men) |
| 30:1 | Agur son of Jakeh |
| 31:1 | Lemuel (or his mother) |
| 31:10-31? | unknown author |
Studies of word usage have indicated that the highest percentage of commonalities are between the three Solomon sections. The next most common are the Wise Men sections, and the least commonalities were with the sections attributed to Agur, Lemuel, and the unknown author. A majority of scholars, such as Crenshaw, Murphy and Perdue, hold to the belief that much of Proverbs was brought together from a time well after Solomon.
Date of writing
Dates for the writing of the book are also unclear. Due to the suggested authorship of Solomon and the collaboration of Hezekiah’s men there are some dates that can be worked with. However there are not enough to give specific timing to the completion of the book though it could have been as late as third century B.C.E.
Influences
There have been suggestions that there is a crossover of some Egyptian nature in the proverbs from The Instructions of Amenemopet.
Proverbs as wisdom literature
The book of Proverbs is referred to as wisdom literature along with several other books: the book of Job, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, along with several apocryphal books.
Setting
It is difficult to pin the provenance of Proverbs down. Several suggestions have been made.
- Family
In the society of ancient Israel, the family played an important role in the upbringing and education of children. Some internal evidence hints to the use of Proverbs in a family setting: The phrase "my Son" appears some 20 times throughout the book. The role of the mother is also listed some 10 times.
- Court
The name of Solomon stands in the title of the book, thus suggesting a royal setting. Throughout the Old Testament is wisdom connected with the court.
- School
It is possible practical and reflective wisdom was transmitted in a house of learning or instruction. [1]
What is the central theme of the book?
The central theme to the book of Proverbs can be linked to Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." This theme of centrality of the knowledge of God runs through the entirety of the book. The instructions that are given, although they are for everyday circumstances, allude to humankind’s uprightness before God. The thought pattern that the reverence and respect for God in all circumstances brings true knowledge is encouraged in this book. The book centers on the willingness to learn as important. God’s people were brought into the belief that God’s law is something that is part of life and is a duty, and this required obedience. Proverbs calls this kind of obedience the fear of the Lord. This obligation, which is similar to the knowledge of God that they had from the prophetic books, involves reverence, gratitude, and commitment to do the will of God in every circumstance. The main goal of Proverbs is to define clearly what it means to be fully devoted to God’s will and seeing his will accomplished in this world.
A second theme is that obedience to God's law will bring His blessing, while disobedience will result in disaster.
See also
- Pride goes before a fall
- Proverbs 31
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Benson, Clarence H., Old Testament Survey: Poetry and Prophecy, 1972
- Blank, S. H. "Book of Proverbs," in The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible [1962]
- Chapman, Milo L., Purkiser, W.T., Wolf, Earl C. & Harper, A. F. Beacon Bible Commentary: Job through Song of Solomon, 1967
- Crenshaw, James L. "Book of Proverbs," The Anchor Bible Dictionary, 1992
- Dean, Matt. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume II, 2003
- Jewish Encyclopedia, with dates of compilation and manuscript traditions
- Lasor, William Sanford, Hubbard, David Allan, & Bush, Frederic Wm., Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament, 1996
- Murphy, Roland E., Wisdom Literature: Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Canticles, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. Grand Rapids, 1981
- Perdue, Leo G. Proverbs: interpretation A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, 2000
- Steinmann, Andrew E. "Proverbs 1-9 as a Solomonic Composition," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 43, no. 4
- Waltke, Bruce (2004). Book Of Proverbs: Chapters 1-15. Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0802825452.
- Waltke, Bruce (2005). The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15-31. Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0802827760.
External links
Online translations of Book of Proverbs:
- Jewish translations:
- Mishlei - Proverbs (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org
- Christian translations:
Notes
- ↑ W. Dennis Tucker, "Literary Forms in the Wisdom Literature" In: An introduction to Wisdom Literature and the Psalms, FS Marvin E. Tate, ed. H. Wayne Ballard, 163-166
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