Proverbs 9:10

9:10 The beginning 1  of wisdom is to fear the Lord, 2 

and acknowledging 3  the Holy One 4  is understanding.

1 sn The difference between תְּחִלַּת (tÿkhillat) here and רֵאשִׁית (re’shit) of 1:7, if there is any substantial difference, is that this term refers to the starting point of wisdom, and the earlier one indicates the primary place of wisdom (K&D 16:202).

2 tn Heb “fear of the Lord.”

3 tn Heb “knowledge of the Holy One” (so ASV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

4 tn The word is in the plural in the Hebrew (literally “holy ones”; KJV “the holy”). It was translated “holy men” in Tg. Prov 9:10. But it probably was meant to signify the majestic nature of the Lord. As J. H. Greenstone says, he is “all-holy” (Proverbs, 94). This is an example of the plural of majesty, one of the honorific uses of the plural (see IBHS 122-23 §7.4.3b).