King James Version
Proverbs
Proverbs in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Proverbs: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Solomon, for most of the book, with Hezekiah’s men copying a section, and Agur and King Lemuel named for the last chapters. The Talmud says Hezekiah and his colleagues wrote it. |
|---|---|
| Date | About 950–700 BC in one survey, from Solomon to Hezekiah. Critical scholars often date the final collection about 500–300 BC. |
| Place written | Jerusalem, modern Jerusalem, for the Solomonic and Hezekian collections. |
| Genre | Wisdom sayings and instruction. |
| Chapters | 31 |
| Verses | 915 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | Proverbs 1:7Proverbs 1:7 · King James VersionThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.Proverbs 1:7 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
Proverbs names several sources. Proverbs 1:1Proverbs 1:1 · King James VersionThe proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
Proverbs 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source and Proverbs 10:1Proverbs 10:1 · King James VersionThe proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
Proverbs 10:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) name Solomon. Proverbs 25:1Proverbs 25:1 · King James VersionThese are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Proverbs 25:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source says the men of Hezekiah copied more proverbs of Solomon. Proverbs 30:1Proverbs 30:1 · King James VersionThe words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
Proverbs 30:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source names Agur and Proverbs 31:1Proverbs 31:1 · King James VersionThe words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Proverbs 31:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source King Lemuel. 1 Kings 4:321 Kings 4:32 · King James VersionAnd he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
1 Kings 4:32 · King James VersionOpen the Source says Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs. The Talmud says Hezekiah and his colleagues wrote Proverbs, which fits the copying of Proverbs 25:1Proverbs 25:1 · King James VersionThese are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Proverbs 25:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source. (2) Critical scholars note parallels between Proverbs 22:17–24:22 and the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope.
Who It Is Not
Agur and Lemuel are not Solomon. The wise woman of Proverbs 31 is the subject of an acrostic poem.
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives 950–700 BC. (4)
Audience and Setting
The young, in Proverbs 1:4Proverbs 1:4 · King James VersionTo give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Proverbs 1:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source, and all who would be wise. The purpose is to teach wisdom grounded in the fear of the Lord.
Rulers at the Time
Solomon and Hezekiah are named. Reign dates were not checked for this essay and are omitted.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Solomon’s collections | Proverbs 1–24 |
| Hezekiah’s men | Proverbs 25–29 |
| Agur and Lemuel | Proverbs 30–31 |
| Composition | 950–700 BC in one survey. (4) |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem | Implied by Solomon’s and Hezekiah’s courts. | Proverbs 1:1Proverbs 1:1 · King James VersionThe proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;Proverbs 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
Proverbs 1–9 are instruction from a father, with wisdom personified as a woman. Proverbs 10–22 are short sayings. Proverbs 22–24 are sayings of the wise. Proverbs 25–29 are Hezekiah’s collection. Proverbs 30–31 are Agur, Lemuel, and the virtuous woman.
Key Themes
The fear of the Lord in Proverbs 1:7Proverbs 1:7 · King James VersionThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Trust in Proverbs 3:5–6Proverbs 3:5–6 · King James Version3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5–6 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Speech, work, and justice throughout.
Apologetics Questions
Proverbs are general truths, not promises, as Proverbs 26:4–5Proverbs 26:4–5 · King James Version26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Proverbs 26:4–5 · King James VersionOpen the Source shows by giving two opposite sayings side by side. That helps readers who think the book guarantees outcomes.
How the Book Points to Christ
Wisdom present at creation in Proverbs 8:22–31Proverbs 8:22–31 · King James Version8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Proverbs 8:22–31 · King James VersionOpen the Source has been read of Christ, who is the wisdom of God in 1 Corinthians 1:241 Corinthians 1:24 · King James VersionBut unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:24 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Arians used Proverbs 8:22Proverbs 8:22 · King James VersionThe LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Proverbs 8:22 · King James VersionOpen the Source to argue the Son was created, and Athanasius answered them. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Proverbs is among the books found at Qumran. (5)
Canon Reception
Received in the Jewish and Christian lists. (3)
Further Reading
References
- Book of Proverbs, 1:1; 10:1; 25:1; 30:1; 31:1Proverbs 1:1 · King James Version
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
Proverbs 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 15a, 15a (The William Davidson English on Sefaria is copyrighted. This page paraphrases it and does not reprint it. The page continues the list of writers and the debate about it.)
- Against Apion, 1.8Josephus, Against Apion 1.8 · William Whiston
For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from, and contradicting one another: [as the Greeks have:] but only twenty two books: which contain the records of all the past times: which are justly believed to be divine. And of them five belong to Moses: which contain his laws, and the traditions of the origin of mankind, till his death.
Josephus, Against Apion 1.8 · William WhistonOpen the Source (Flavius Josephus, Against Apion 1.8, translated by William Whiston. Josephus counts twenty-two books: five of Moses, thirteen of the prophets from Moses to Artaxerxes, and four of hymns and precepts.) - When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, Proverbs (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives Proverbs as 950–700 BC. It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Dead Sea Scrolls, introduction, Biblical manuscriptsDead Sea Scrolls, biblical manuscripts · Israel Antiquities Authority
Among the Scrolls are partial or complete copies of every book in the Hebrew Bible (except the book of Esther).
Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical manuscripts · Israel Antiquities AuthorityOpen the Source (Israel Antiquities Authority. Biblical manuscripts from the Qumran caves date from the third century BC into the first century AD, and every book of the Hebrew Bible except Esther is represented.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.