Book of Proverbs
Who wrote it?

Who wrote the book of Proverbs? The first and foremost author is Solomon:

"The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;" (Prov. 1:1, NKJV thoughout unless stated).

The king probably wrote chapters 1-29 of Proverbs. Chapter 30 is attributed to Agur, the son of Jakeh (30:1). Chapter 31 is attributed to King Lemuel - the prophecy or teaching that his mother taught him (31:1). The author tell us right in the first chapter the nine sets of reasons why the book was written:

1. To know wisdom and instruction. (verse 2)

2. To perceive the words of understanding. (verse 2)

3. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. (verse 3)

4. To give prudence to the simple. (verse 4)

5. To the young man knowledge and discretion. (verse 4)

6. A wise man will hear and increase learning. (verse 5)

7. A man of understanding will attain wise counsel. (verse 5)

8. To understand a proverb and an enigma. (verse 6)

9. To understand the words of the wise and their riddles. (verse 6)

In Matthew Henry's Commentary we find that the book of Proverbs will help us:

1. To form right notions of things, and to possess our minds with clear and distinct ideas, that we may know both how to speak and act wisely.

2. To distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil - for understanding words of insight.

3. To order our conversation aright.

It is obvious that Solomon, the king of Israel and son of David, was writing to his male descendants and all the young males of Israel as he addresses them in totality as "my son." Such an address can be found in the following references: Proverbs 1:8, 10, 15;  2:1;  3:1, 11, 21;  4:10, 20;  5:1, 20;  6:1, 3, 20;  7:1;  19:27;  23:15, 19, 26;  24:13, 21;  27:11;  31:2.

It is certainly a fitting book for all youth and adults to read and study for spiritual wisdom or insight.

The main topics of Proverbs are:

• Wisdom

• Understanding

• The Commandments or Laws of God

• Sin and Iniquity - The Breaking of God's Law

• Comparisons between God's way and Man's way of life

One would be hard put to come up with any topic other than wisdom as being the most referred to theme or topic of this book. There are at least 100 references to "wisdom", "wise men", or "being wise" in this book. Plus, there is one section where Wisdom, personified, calls and speaks (Proverbs 1:2-7, & 20-33), and still another section where we hear, as it were, the voice of Wisdom (Proverbs 8:1, 4-36). Linked to this or coupled with it is the matter of which comes up as the next theme but which can hardly be separated from wisdom in essential meaning. In many verses listed below as wisdom references you will find understanding mentioned as well. You might want to make special note of those verses.

"Wisdom calls aloud outside;  She raises her voice in the open squares.  She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words."  (Proverbs 1:20-21)

Wherever men are found, wherever they come together, wisdom, that is based on the fear of the Lord, cries out to be acknowledged, accepted, and allowed to guide and direct men's lives. The call can be heard. Jesus Christ said,

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

Wisdom, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, empowers you to make right decisions - decisions that lead to living a life of righteousness.

In the book of 1Kings, chapter 3, one can read as to how Solomon came to acquire great wisdom. God told Solomon to ask for whatever he desired most earnestly. Solomon asked for wisdom so that he might be able to govern his people properly and wisely. That gained for him God's favor and brought him rewards. In Halley's Bible Handbook Solomon is credited with having vast business enterprises, and that he was famous for literary attainments. He wrote 3,000 proverbs, 1,005 songs, and scientific works on botany and zoology. Attributed to him are three books of the Bible.

Proverbs 2 tell us what to do if we want wisdom:

1. Accept God's word (verse 1)

2. Store up His commands. (verse 1)

3. Develop an "ear" for wisdom (verse 2).

4. Set your heart to get understanding (verse 2).

5. Call out, cry aloud for understanding (verse 3).

6. Search for it as if it were a treasure (verse 4).

Proverbs 2 teaches us that there are promises and rewards for seeking wisdom:

1. You will understand the fear of the Lord (verse 5).

2. You will find the knowledge of God (verse 5). Jesus Christ said,

   "Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

3. From the Lord will come knowledge and understanding (verse 6).

4. Victory is in store for the upright (verse 7).

5. God will be a shield to anyone whose walk is blameless (verse 7).

6. God guards and protects the faithful ones (verse 8).

7. You will understand what is right and just (verse 9).

8. Wisdom will enter into your heart (verse 10).

9. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul (verse 10).

Other important Bible Scriptures about seeking wisdom may be found in Daniel 2:20-22, Isaiah 51:7, 25:8, & 11:1-9, Psalms 1:1-6 and 19:7-11, and James 3:17.

Without wisdom one is many times left with following the ways of evil men and women. Proverbs says about them:

1. Their words are perverse (Proverbs 2:12; Romans 3:11-14, James 3:8).

2. They walk in dark ways and love darkness rather than light (Proverbs 2:13, 1John 1:5-6, Psalms 91:6, Ecclesiastes 2:14, Luke 1:79, John 1:19).

3. They rejoice in evil, perverseness, and wickedness (Proverbs 2:14; Hebrews 11:25, Luke 8:14, 2Timothy 3:1-7).

4. They won't go straight but follow a crooked path (Proverbs 2:15; Matthew 7:13-14, Philippians 2:15).

5. They are devious and deceptive (Proverbs 2:15; Ephesians 4:14, Matthew 24:24, Romans 3:13, Mark 7:22, Prov. 7:22).

6. They ignore covenants, especially marriage bonds (Proverbs 2:17, Romans 1:22-32).

7. They may even communicate with the dead or deal in spiritualism (Prov. 2:18, Romans 1:22-32)

One who has true wisdom also will have understanding. This especially applies to spiritual things. One very moving story found in 1Kings 3:16- 28 shows plainly that Solomon practiced the principles of Proverbs and understood human nature. With that understanding as to how women think and react, especially mothers, he was able to render the proper judgment in the case involving two women who claimed to be the mother of one baby:

"Now two women who were harlots came to the king, and stood before him.  And one woman said, 'O my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house;  and I gave birth while she was in the house.  Then it happened, the third day after I had given birth, that this woman also gave birth.  And we were together;  no one was with us in the house, except the two of us in the house.  And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him.  So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from my side . . . , while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom . . .

"Then the other woman said,  'No!  But the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.'  And the first woman said,  'No!  But the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son . . .'

"Then the king said,  'Bring me a sword.'  So they brought a sword before the king.  And the king said,  'Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other.'

"Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son;  and she said, 'O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!'  But the other said, 'Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.'

"So the king answered and said, 'Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother.'" (1Kings 3:16-22, 24-27)

King David, Solomon's father, said of God's commandments:

"You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;  For they are ever with me.  I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts . . . Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. " (Psalm 119:98-100, 104).

The Apostle Paul told Timothy,

". . . and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2Timothy 3:15-17).

The laws of God certainly play a key role in instruction in righteousness and for men and women to be able to obtain the wisdom of God as taught by His Holy Spirit.

The following texts in the book of Proverbs make reference to the commandments or God's law: Proverbs 2:1-2, 22; 3:1-2; 4:4; 6:20-23; 7:1-3; 8:32; 13:13-14; 16:17; 19:16; 23:26; 28:4, 7, 9; 29:18; 31:5

153 verses in Proverbs make reference to sin and iniquity which is defined in the Bible as the breaking of God's law. It is the subject of virtually one whole chapter. So this topic belongs in the list of the major themes of Proverbs. From it we gain an insight into the ways of sinful human beings.

The following texts make reference to sin and iniquity: Proverbs 1:10-18, 29, 32; 2:12-16; 4:14-17, 19; 5:12-14, 22; 6:1-2, 12-14, 16-19; 8:36; 10:17-18; 12:20; 16:27-30 and others (Key text: is seven things God hates in 24:8-9, 16-24); 25:14, 18, 23, 28; 26:1-28; 27:3-8; 28:17, 23-25; 29:22-27; 30:8-14; 31:5

The following is a list of things or persons that the writer of the Book of Proverbs states are abominations unto the Lord.

1. A proud look (Proverbs 6:17)

2. A lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17)

3. Hands that shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:17)

4. The heart that devises wicked imaginations (Proverbs 6:18)

5. Feet that are swift in running to mischief (Proverbs 6:18)

6. A false witness who speaks lies (Prov. 6:19)

7. One that sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:19)

8. Lying lips (Prov. 12:22)

9. The sacrifice of the wicked (Proverbs 15:8)

10. The way of the wicked (Proverbs 15:9)

11. He that justifies the wicked (Prov. 17:15)

12. He that condemns the just (Prov. 17:15)

13. Divers weights and measures (Proverbs 20:10, 23).

The key verses of Proverbs were determined by their content, by how they emphasize the themes of the book, by the degree to which they speak to doctrines that are vital to the faith, and to the degree by which they become powerful verses in the way they impact upon us.

I hope this overview of the Book of Proverbs helps you understand the Bible a little bit better.