Proverbs 1:3
in Proverbs 1and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;
KJV
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
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This verse in Proverbs 1
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Wisdom - Not the same word as in Pro 1:2; better, perhaps, thoughtfulness. Justice - Rather, righteousness. The word in the Hebrew includes the ideas of truth and beneficence as well as “justice.” Judgment - The teaching of the Proverbs is to lead us to pass a right sentence upon human actions, whether our own or another’s. Equity - In the Hebrew (see the margin) the plural is used, and expresses the many varying forms and phases of the one pervading principle.
This site's exposition
the proverbs of Solomon son of David
on Proverbs 1:1-4
The book opens with a heading that names its author, his descent from David, and his office as “king of Israel”. Headings of the same kind return at 10:1, 22:17, 24:23, 25:1, 30:1 and 31:1, the book's record of how the collection was gathered across generations.
This site's exposition
instruction in wise living
The word behind wise living differs from the wisdom of verse 2, and Albert Barnes renders it thoughtfulness. Righteousness, justice and equity then carry the learning into dealings with other people. Equity is plural in the Hebrew, many forms of one principle.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
JeromeHOMILIES ON THE PSALMS, ALTERNATE SERIES 61 (PSALM 15) · Written before 420.
proposed
But "panourgia," that is, cleverness, may be taken either in a good or in a bad sense: in a good sense, according to Proverbs, "That he may give," it says, "shrewdness to the innocent, and to the younger boy sense and understanding"; in a bad sense, as in the apostle, "But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his shrewdness, your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." What he says, then, is this: my instruction and deep thought and the inner affection of the heart was not only with me in the heavenly places, but even while I dwelt in the night of this world and in darkness, it was engaged with me in the man, and instructed me, and was never absent from me, so that whatever the weakness of the flesh could not do, divine thought and power might accomplish.
A commentator
JeromeHOMILIES ON THE PSALMS, ALTERNATE SERIES 60 (PSALM 10) · Written before 420.
proposed
And because he rains snares upon sinners, and gives them to drink the goblet of torments which they deserve, God himself, being just, loves justices. For just as there is one true God, even if there are many gods who are so called by participation in him, and there is one only-begotten Son of God, while others are called so by adoption; so also there is one true justice, as is written in the beginning of the Proverbs, but from communication of it the Lord loves many things called justices.
A commentator
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 1:3 · Written before 407.
proposed
Those concepts which are expressed by the Holy Spirit in parables through their counterpart of speech become quite clear when one brings them before God with a faithful heart. For they understand the true righteousness which was announced by Christ.
To confess that we are imperfect, and have not yet apprehended, nor yet obtained, this is true wisdom in man: know thyself to be imperfect; and, if I may so speak, the perfection of all who are righteous, so long as they are in the flesh, is imperfect. Hence we read in Proverbs: "To understand true righteousness." For if there were not also a false righteousness, the righteousness of God would never be called true.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Justice, and judgment, etc. Justice is in those things we do well according to the rule of truth; judgment, in those things we act with right discernment with our neighbors. Equity is in that action wherein with sincere intention we strive to please God alone …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
To receive the instruction of wisdom,.... Or "prudence" (h); of wise and prudent men; and especially of Christ himself, who bears those names, whose instructions this book is full of; and the design of which is to engage the attention of men to them, and prevail upon them to receive them, and act conformably to them.
Note, Those are truly wise, and none but those, who are universally conscientious; and the design of the scripture is to teach us that wisdom, justice in the duties of the first table, judgment in those of the second table, and equity (that is sincerity) in both; so some distinguish them.
This book will help us, 1. To form right notions of things, and to possess our minds with clear and distinct ideas of them, that we may know wisdom and instruction, that wisdom which is got by instruction, by divine revelation, may know both how to speak and act wisely ourselves and to give instruction to others.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
To receive . . . of wisdom--For receiving that discipline which discretion imparts. The Hebrew for "wisdom" differs from that of Pr 1:2, and denotes rather discreet counsel.
To receive the instruction - השכל haskel, the deliberately weighing of the points contained in the teaching, so as to find out their importance. Equity - משרים mesharim, rectitude. The pupil is to receive wisdom and instruction, the words of wisdom and understanding, justice and judgment, so perfectly as to excel in all. Wisdom itself, personified, is his teacher; and when God’s wisdom teaches, there is no delay in learning.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לָ֭קַחַת | lakachat | to receive | H3947 → | 966 times |
| מוּסַ֣ר | musar | correction of | H4148 → | 50 times |
| הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל | haskel | insight | H7919 → | 62 times |
| צֶ֥דֶק | tzedek | righteousness | H6664 → | 119 times |
| וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט | umishpat | and justice | H4941 → | 422 times |
| וּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ | umeisharim | and uprightness<es> | H4339 → | 19 times |
לָ֭קַחַתto receive
lakachatH3947 →966 times
מוּסַ֣רcorrection of
musarH4148 →50 times
הַשְׂכֵּ֑לinsight
haskelH7919 →62 times
צֶ֥דֶקrighteousness
tzedekH6664 →119 times
וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗טand justice
umishpatH4941 →422 times
וּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃and uprightness<es>
umeisharimH4339 →19 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Job 22:22Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
it leads to
- Psalms 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- Job 23:12
I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
- Deuteronomy 4:1–2
Hear now, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live and may enter and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of…
- Deuteronomy 6:6–9
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts.
- Psalms 119:11
Through
1 Kings 3:28When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 3:9–12
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- Daniel 2:47
The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
- 1 Kings 3:9–12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
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About Proverbs
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS, ALTERNATE SERIES 61 (PSALM 15); Jerome, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS, ALTERNATE SERIES 60 (PSALM 10); Jerome, Against the Pelagians 1.14; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 1:3; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.