Proverbs 8:6
in Proverbs 8Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
KJV
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
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This verse in Proverbs 8
Commentary
8 notes on this verseHear; for I will speak of excellent things - נגידים negidim, things which are preeminent, and manifestly superior to all others. The teaching is not trifling, though addressed to triflers. The opening of my lips shall be right things - מישרים meysharim, things which are calculated to correct your false notions, and set straight your crooked ways. Hence she declares,
This site's exposition
for I speak of noble things
on Proverbs 8:6-11
Wisdom's credentials are moral before they are intellectual: “none are crooked or perverse”. “They are all plain to the discerning,” so any difficulty lies in the hearer. The price comparison, “my instruction instead of silver” and wisdom “more precious than rubies,” repeats the appraisal of 3:14-15.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
And my lips will be open, etc. His lips are the two Testaments, concordant in the truth, joined in attestation, which, with his flesh appearing through the gift of the Holy Spirit, were opened to preach salvation throughout the whole world.
Listen, for I will speak of great things. Great indeed, because he both promised and gave the kingdom of heaven, and taught the faith of the holy Trinity, and innumerable other things which the prophets left to be spoken by him.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The redeemer is the eternal Word and wisdom, the Logos. He is the Wisdom that speaks to the children of men in the former part of the chapter. All divine revelation passes through his hand, and centres in him; but of him as the personal Wisdom, the second person in the Godhead, in the judgment of many of the ancients, Solomon here speaks,
), princely things, so the word is. Though they are level to the capacity of the meanest, yet there is that in them which will be entertainment for the greatest.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things,.... Such are the things of the Gospel; they not only excel what the light of nature dictates and directs to, but even what the law of Moses commands and requires; the doctrines of the Gospel are excellent in their author, nature, and use; particularly those which respect the love, grace, and mercy of God, the person and offices of Christ, the efficacy of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, and the great salvation which he has wrought out.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Excellent - literally, “princely things.” The word is not the same as in marginal reference, and is elsewhere always used of persons (compare “captain” in 1Sa 9:16; 2Sa 5:2). The poetic style of this part of the book applies it here to the things taught, or to the character of the teaching.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שִׁ֭מְעוּ | shimu | listen | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| נְגִידִ֣ים | negidim | princely things | H5057 → | |
| אֲדַבֵּ֑ר | ʾadaber | I will speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| וּמִפְתַּ֥ח | umiftach | and [the] utterance of | H4669 → | |
| שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י | sefatai | lips my | H8193 → | 176 times |
| מֵישָׁרִֽים׃ | meisharim | [will be] uprightness<es> | H4339 → | 19 times |
שִׁ֭מְעוּlisten
shimuH8085 →1159 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
נְגִידִ֣יםprincely things
negidimH5057 →
אֲדַבֵּ֑רI will speak
ʾadaberH1696 →1141 times
וּמִפְתַּ֥חand [the] utterance of
umiftachH4669 →
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יlips my
sefataiH8193 →176 times
מֵישָׁרִֽים׃[will be] uprightness<es>
meisharimH4339 →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
Matthew 13:35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
it leads to
- Psalms 78:2
I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,
- Romans 16:25–26
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7
No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 3:9
and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
- 1 Peter 1:20–21
He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
- Psalms 78:2
Through
Colossians 1:26the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.
it leads to
- Luke 8:10
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing,…
- Ephesians 3:3–10
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
- Luke 8:10
Through
Proverbs 4:2For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 4:6
By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.
- 1 Timothy 4:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
About Proverbs
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; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.