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Proverbs 7:4

in Proverbs 7

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding thy kinswoman:

KJV

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

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This verse in Proverbs 7

Commentary

7 notes on this verse

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

As that which we make use of for our defence and armour, to keep us from the strange woman, from sin, that flattering but destroying thing, that adulteress; particularly from the sin of uncleanness,

This site's exposition

My son, keep my words

on Proverbs 7:1-5

The father's appeal opens as it did in chapters 2, 3 and 6. Calling wisdom “my sister” and understanding “your kinsman” makes the safeguard a kinship. Verse 5 states the purpose, “that they may keep you from the adulteress,” and all that follows makes the case for the guard.

This site's exposition

You are my sister

Barnes sets Wisdom, the sister and kinsman of this verse, against the adulteress of the chapter as the true pattern of womanhood. Song of Solomon 4:9 uses sister of the bride. The son is to be spoken for before the stranger calls.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

HOMILIES ON GENESIS 6:1 · Written before 253.

proposed

It is proper that until we reach maturity, virtue of the soul be within us and personal, but when we reach full maturity so that we are capable also of teaching others, let us then no longer enclose virtue within our bosom as a wife but as a sister, let us unite her also with others who wish her. For to those who are perfect the divine Word says, "Say that wisdom is your sister."

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Proverbs · Written before 735.

proposed

Say to wisdom, You are my sister, etc. Join the wisdom of ecclesiastical doctrine to you with fraternal love; so that it may preserve you from heretical defilement, which is proven to be foreign to the chastity of the Church.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Thou art my sister - Thou art my dearest friend, and I will treat thee as such.

The words behind it

7 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • אֱמֹ֣רsay

    ʾemorH559 →5305 times

  • לַֽ֭חָכְמָהto <the> wisdom

    lachakhemahH2451 →153 times

  • אֲחֹ֣תִי[are] sister my

    ʾachotiH269 →

  • אָ֑תְּyou

    ʾatH859 →1094 times

  • וּ֝מֹדָ֗עand a relative

    umoda'H4129 →

  • לַבִּינָ֥הto <the> discernment

    labinahH998 →38 times

  • תִקְרָֽא׃you will call

    tikra'H7121 →733 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

8 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Proverbs 1:2for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,6 worksProverbs 4:6–8Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.5 worksProverbs 2:2–4if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,5 worksProverbs 4:1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.4 worksSong of Solomon 8:1O that you were to me like a brother who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.2 worksJob 17:14and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’2 works
The other 2 cross-references, with their words ▾
Matthew 12:49–50Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.1 worksLuke 11:27–28As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Song of Solomon 8:1

    O that you were to me like a brother who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 45:10–11

      Listen, O daughter! Consider and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father’s house,

    • Zechariah 9:9

      Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of…

    • Galatians 4:26

      But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

    • Psalms 102:16–17

      For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.

  • Through

    Job 17:14

    and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

    it leads to

    • Psalms 16:10

      For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

    • Isaiah 14:11

      Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.

    • Acts 2:27–31

      because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

    • 1 Corinthians 15:53–54

      For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

About Proverbs

The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Proverbs: the study guide →Read Proverbs 7 →

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; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 6:1.

Read on in Proverbs 7 →