Proverbs 9:1
ContextNETBible | Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out its seven pillars. 2 |
XREF | 1Ki 7:2,3,6,21; Mt 16:18; 1Co 3:9-15; Ga 2:9; Eph 2:20-22; 1Ti 3:15; Heb 3:3-6; 1Pe 2:5,6; Re 3:12 |
NET © Notes |
1 sn Chapter 9 forms the conclusion of the lengthy introduction to the book. Both wisdom and folly will make their final appeals; and both appeal to the simpletons. Wisdom offers life with no mention of pleasure; folly offers pleasure with no mention of death. The first twelve verses concern accepting wisdom: the invitation of wisdom (1-6), the description of the responses (7-11), and the consequence (12). Verses 13-18 concern accepting folly: the invitation (13-17) and the consequence (18). 2 sn Wisdom is personified as a wise woman. She has prepared a house and established it on seven pillars. This is a reference to the habitable world (e.g., 8:31). For the equation of the house and the world, e.g., 8:29; Job 38:6; and Psalm 104:5 (also G. Boström, Proverbiastudien [LUÅ], 1-14). The “seven pillars” have been variously interpreted, but since seven is a number for completeness and sacredness, the idea seems to be that wisdom produced a perfect world. |