Proverbs 9
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Proverbs 9:1:
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; |
 David Guzik Files
Built her house: Adam Clarke described the general understanding of this figure from the early church fathers and medieval theologians: “The house built by wisdom is the holy humanity of Jesus Christ; the seven pillars are the seven sacraments, or the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost, or the whole of the apostles, preachers, and ministers of the Church; the slain beasts are the sacrifice of Christ’s body upon the cross; and the bread and mingled wine are the bread and wine in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper!” Of this, Clarke wrote: “men have produced strange creatures of their own brain, by way of explanation.”
Hewn out her seven pillars: The primary idea is that wisdom’s house is large, well-appointed, and unshakable. Through the centuries, various commentators have not been able to resist seeing some symbolic meaning in her seven pillars. i. “i.e. many pillars; whereby is intimated both the beauty and the stability of the church. Pillars; prophets, and apostles, and ministers of holy things, which in Scripture are called pillars, as Galatians 2:9, and elsewhere.” -David Guzik; Enduring Word |
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Proverbs 9:2:
2 She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table. |
We see here in the “mingled wine” the wine that has been diluted with water for drinking in the temple. The table is well furnished with beasts and wine.
Wine was diluted with water as much as 1 to 8 to reduce its power to intoxicate. It was also mixed with spices for flavor. Unmixed wine is called strong drink. -Bible Studys |
Proverbs 9:3:
3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
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Proverbs 9:7-9:
7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. 8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. |
 Steve Gallagher Files
"The person with unapproachable pride cannot be corrected, or confronted on any matter, He is noticeably tense whenever he is dealt with about areas in his life which need correction. Solomon said, "He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a scoffer, lest he hate you, reprove a wise man, and he will love you." (Prov 9:7-8)
A proud and foolish man will not receive reproof. This is unfortunate because effective biblical counseling, which tends to be confrontational, is essential to the growth process of any Christian desiring to overcome sin ion his or her life. --Steve Gallagher; At The Idol of Sexual Idolatry |
proverbs 9:10-12
Proverbs 9:11-12:
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
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Proverbs 9:13-18:
13 A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. 14 For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city, 15 To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way: 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 17 “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell |
The personification of wisdom in today’s passage is paired with a personification of foolishness in Proverbs 9:13-18, also as a woman. The similar structures of the two passages indicate that they are to be read together and in contrast. Both invite the “simple” into their houses for a meal, using the same invitation (vv. 4, 16). But while wisdom has gone so far as to build her own house, prepare her own meal, and to make efforts to invite people in, the foolish woman merely sits at the door of her house, calling to whoever happens to pass by (vv. 14-15), and her meals are stolen (v. 17). Moreover, while wisdom’s meal leads to life (v. 6), foolishness kills her guests (v. 18). -Working Preacher
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The chapter ends by describing a twisted mirror image of Wisdom. This woman, Folly, also invites others to join her. Rather than encouraging godliness, Folly lies and says that illicit pleasures are better than God's creations. Those who fall for her seduction fail to see that her path leads to death (Proverbs 9:13–18). -Bible Ref
