Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Proverbs.
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Basics
- Proverbs are often figurative, pointing beyond themselves.
- Proverbs are intensely practical.
- Proverbs are worded to be memorable, not technically precise. Expect hyperbole, emotive language and poetic phrases.
- Proverbs are not designed to support selfish behavior.
- Proverbs which strongly reflect ancient culture may need a sensible “translation” to retain their meaning.
- Proverbs are not guarantees from God, but poetic guidelines for good behavior.
- Proverbs may use highly specific language, exaggeration or any literary technique to make their point.
- Proverbs give good advice for wise approaches to certain aspects of life, but are not exhaustive in their coverage.
Wisdom Literature
- Job, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Song of Solomon
- General interest in humanity and universal pronouncements (as opposed to the people of Israel)
- Grounded in a theology of creation
- Fear of YHWH as proper context for wisdom, sometimes explicitly stated, but often implicit
- Questioning attitude about the basic problems of life: why is there suffering, inequality, death, why do the wicked prosper, etc.
Proverbial Patterns
- Identity: proverbs of equivalence, invariable association (e.g. Proverbs 14:10; “A friend in need is a friend indeed”).
- Non-identity: proverbs of contrast, paradox (e.g. Proverbs 27:7: “All that glitters is not gold”).
- Similarity: proverbs of analogy, type (e.g. Proverbs 25:20; “A chip off the old block”).
- Situational characterization: proverbs which classify people according to actions or situations (e.g. Proverbs 26:15; “A rolling stone gathers no moss”).
- Comparison: proverbs which establish values, priority, proportion or degree by using comparative or superlative (e.g. Proverbs 22:1; “better late than never”).
- Consequences: proverbs which tell the result of human character and/or behavior (e.g. Proverbs 26:27; “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”).
Major Themes in Proverbs
- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
- Relationships between parents and children
- Contrast between the just and the wicked
- Values of good friends and a loving spouse
- Civic virtues of honesty, generosity, justice and integritiy
- Mastery of passions, self-control (especially sexual)
- Proper use of speech and silence
- Stewardship over wealth and possession, prudence, hard work
- The value of wisdom over folly or foolishness
Structure
- Chapters 1-9: Proverbs to Youth
- Chapters10-22: Proverbs of Solomon (Hezekiah)
- Chapters 22:17-24:22: Sayings of the Wise
- Chapters 24:23-34: Further sayings of the wise
- Chapters 25-29: More proverbs of Solomon
- Chpater 31: Sayings of King Lemuel
Genre: Understanding Hebrew Poetry
Background & Outlines
Ray Stedman: Overview of each Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
Biblehub: Timeline of Proverbs
ESV: The Global Message of Proverbs
NIV: Wisdom Literature
James van Dine: Analysis of Proverbs
Charles Swindoll: Book of Proverbs Overview
JVernon McGee: Proverbs Overview
Paul van Gorder: OT Reflections of Christ in Proverbs
William Orr: Keys To Proverbs
David Malick: An Introduction to the Book of Proverbs
David Malick: An Argument of the Book of Proverbs
Major Characteristics of Hebrew Poetry: Parallelism
Maps from Holman Bible Atlas
The Battle at Ebenezer and the Loss of the Ark
The Ministry of Samuel and Anointment of Saul
The Kingdom of Saul and His Wars
The United Monarchy under Solomon (1)
The United Monarchy under Solomon (2)
Solomon’s Economic Enterprises
Jerusalem in the Time of David and Solomon
ESV Maps
Key Words
Fear of the LORD (14x) – Prov. 1:7,29; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26-27; 15:16,33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17
Wisdom (48x/47v) – Prov. 1:2,7,20; 2:2,6-7,10; 3:13,19,21; 4:5,7,11; 5:1; 7:4; 8:1,5,11-12,14; 9:1,10; 10:13,23,31; 11:2; 13:10; 14:6,8,33; 15:33; 16:16; 17:16,24; 18:1,4; 19:8; 21:30; 23:9,23; 24:3,7,14; 29:3,15; 30:3; 31:26
Wise (62x/58v) – Prov. 1:3,5-6; 3:7,35; 6:6; 8:33; 9:8-9,12; 10:1,8,14,19; 11:30; 12:15,18; 13:1,14,20; 14:1,3,16,24; 15:2,7,12,20,24,31; 16:14,21,23; 17:28; 18:15; 19:20; 20:1,18,26; 21:11,20,22; 22:17; 23:15,19,24; 24:5-6,23; 25:12; 26:5,12; 27:11; 28:11; 29:8-9,11; 30:24
Fool(s) (58x) – Fool – Prov. 7:22; 10:8,10,18,23; 12:15; 13:16; 14:7,16; 15:5; 17:7,10,12,16,21,24,28; 18:2; 19:1,10; 20:3; 23:9; 24:7; 26:1,4-6,8,10-12; 27:3,22; 28:26; 29:11,20; 30:22; Fools – Prov. 1:7,22,32; 3:35; 8:5; 10:21; 12:23; 13:19-20; 14:8-9,24,33; 15:2,7,14; 16:22; 19:29; 26:3,7,9
Folly (17x/17v) – Prov. 5:23; 9:6,13; 12:23; 13:16; 14:24,29; 15:2,14,21; 16:22; 17:12; 18:13; 24:9; 26:4-5,11
Foolish (12x/11v) – Prov. 10:1,14; 11:29; 14:1,3; 15:20; 17:25; 19:13; 21:20; 29:9; 30:32
My son (23x) – Prov. 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
Guidance (3x) – Prov. 11:14; 20:18; 24:6
Knowledge (40x/39v) – Prov. 1:4,7,22,29; 2:5-6,10; 3:20; 5:2; 8:9-10,12; 9:10; 10:14; 11:9; 12:1,23; 13:16; 14:6-7,18; 15:2,7,14; 17:27; 18:15; 19:2,25,27; 20:15; 21:11; 22:12,17,20; 23:12; 24:4-5; 28:2; 30:3
Understand(ing) (56x/55v) – Prov. 1:2,5-6; 2:2-3,6,11; 3:5,13,19; 4:1,5,7; 5:1; 7:4; 8:1,5,9,14; 9:4,6,10,16; 10:13,21,23; 11:12; 13:15; 14:6,8,29,33; 15:21,32; 16:16,21-22; 17:10,24,27; 18:2; 19:8,25; 20:5,24; 21:16,30; 23:23; 24:3; 28:2,5,11,16; 29:7,19; 30:2,18
Instruction (16x) – Prov. 1:2-3,7-8; 4:1-2,13; 5:12,23; 8:10,33; 9:9; 10:17; 15:33; 23:23; 24:32
Discipline (17x) – Prov. 3:11; 6:23; 7:22; 12:1; 13:1,18,24; 15:5,32; 16:22; 19:18,20,27; 22:15; 23:12-13
Commandment/command (11x) – Prov. 2:1; 3:1; 4:4; 6:20,23; 7:1-2; 8:29; 10:8; 13:13; 19:16
Truth (12x/12v) – Prov. 3:3; 8:7; 12:17,19; 14:22,25; 16:6; 20:28; 21:28; 22:21; 23:23; 29:14
Righteous(ness)(90x/89v)– Prov. 1:3; 2:9,20; 3:33; 4:18; 8:8,18,20; 9:9; 10:2-3,6-7,11,16,20-21,24-25,28,30-32; 11:4-6,8-10,18-19,21,23,28,30-31; 12:3,5,7,10,12-13,21,26,28; 13:5-6,9,21-22,25; 14:19,32,34; 15:6,9,28-29; 16:8,12-13,31; 17:15,26; 18:5,10; 20:7,28; 21:3,12,15,18,21,26; 23:24; 24:15-16,24; 25:5,26; 28:1,12,28; 29:2,6-7,16,27; 31:9
Evil (59x/55v)– Prov. 1:16,33; 2:12,14; 3:7; 4:14,16,27; 6:14,18,24; 8:13; 11:19,21,27; 12:2,12-13,20; 13:19; 14:16-17,19,22; 15:3,26,28; 16:4,6,17,27,30; 17:4,11,13,20; 19:23; 20:8,22,30; 21:10,27; 22:3; 24:1,8,19-20; 25:10; 27:12; 28:5,10,22; 29:6; 30:32; 31:12
Wicked(ness) (91x/89v) – Prov. 2:22; 3:25,33; 4:14,17,19; 5:22; 6:12,18; 8:7; 9:7; 10:3,6-7,11,16,20,23-25,27-28,30,32; 11:5,7-8,10-11,18,23,31; 12:3,5-7,10,12,21,26; 13:5-6,9,17,25; 14:11,19,32; 15:6,8-9,28-29; 16:4,12; 17:4,15,23; 18:3,5; 19:28; 20:26; 21:4,7,10,12,18,27,29; 24:15-16,19-20,24-25; 25:5,26; 26:23,26; 28:1,4,12,15,28; 29:2,7,12,16,27.
Life (46x) – Prov. 1:19; 2:19; 3:2,16,18,22; 4:10,13,22-23; 5:6; 6:23,26; 7:23; 8:35; 9:11; 10:11,16-17,27; 11:19,30; 12:10,28; 13:3,8,12,14; 14:27,30; 15:4,24,31; 16:15,17,22; 18:21; 19:23; 20:2; 21:21; 22:4,23; 29:10,24; 31:6,12.
Live (14x/14v) – Prov. 1:18,33; 2:21; 3:29; 4:4; 7:2,23; 9:6; 14:25; 15:27; 21:9,19; 23:17; 25:24.
Death (20x/20v) – Prov. 2:18; 5:5; 7:27; 8:36; 10:2; 11:4,19; 12:28; 13:14; 14:12,27; 16:14,25; 18:21; 19:18; 21:6,25; 24:11; 26:18; 28:17.
Tongue (18x) – Prov. 6:17,24; 10:20,31; 12:18-19; 15:2,4; 16:1; 17:4; 18:21; 21:6,23; 25:15,23; 26:28; 28:23; 31:26.
Way (80x/74v) – Prov. 1:15,19,31-32; 2:8,12-13,15,20; 3:6,17,23,31; 4:11,14,19,26; 5:6,8,21; 6:6,23; 7:8,25,27; 8:2,13,20,22,32; 9:6; 10:9,29; 11:5; 12:15,26,28; 13:6,15; 14:2,8,12,14; 15:9-10,19; 16:2,7,9,17,25,29,31; 17:23; 19:3; 20:14,24; 21:2,8,16,29; 22:5-6,25; 23:19,26; 25:26; 28:10; 29:15,27; 30:19-20; 31:3,27
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Proverbs, Theology of
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Proverbs
Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT Proverbs
Easton’s Bible Dictionary Proverbs, Book of
Fausset Bible Dictionary Proverbs, the Book of
Holman Bible Dictionary Proverbs, Book of
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Proverbs, Book of
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Proverbs, Book of
McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Proverbs, Book Of
The Nuttall Encyclopedia Proverbs, Book of
Morrish Bible Dictionary Proverbs, Book of
Watson’s Theological Dictionary Proverbs
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Book of Proverbs
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Proverbs the book of
The Jewish Encyclopedia Proverbs, Book of; Proverbs
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Proverbs – Ligonier
Best Commentaries on Proverbs – Tim Challies
Proverbs- A Mentor Commentary by John Kitchen
Blue Letter Bible: Devotionals related to Proverbs
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Psalms
Matthew Henry: Psalms
Albert Barnes Notes: Proverbs
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Proverbs
Geneva Study Bible: Proverbs
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Proverbs
Bruce Waltke
Programmed Syllabus – The Book of Proverbs (40 pages)
Fundamentals for Preaching the Proverbs – Bruce Waltke
Seven Part Audio Series on Proverbs
Articles
Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Pt 1 – Bruce Waltke (Bib Sacra 165:657, 2008)
Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Pt 2 – Bruce Waltke (Bib Sacra 165:658, 2008)
Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Pt 3 – Bruce Waltke (Bib Sacra 165:659, 2008)
Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Pt 4 – Bruce Waltke (Bib Sacra 165:660, 2008)
The Doctrine Of The ‘Two Ways’ In Proverbs – Daniel Bricker (JETS 38:4, 1995)
Wisdom’s Pedagogy: A Comparison of Proverbs 7 and 4Q184 – Scott Jones
The Fear of the Lord as the ‘Principle’ of Wisdom – Henri Blocher
Tim Chester: On Answering a Fool- Making Sense of the Book of Proverbs
Greg Herrick: The Teaching of Proverbs on Work
Greg Herrick: The Proverbs and the Idea of “Money”
John Angell James: The Young Man’s Friend and Guide Through Life to Immortality – The Study of the Book of PROVERBS
Danny Olinger: Is Wisdom Literature Eschatological?
AW Pink: The Precepts and Understanding
JC Ryle: Thoughts For Young Men
Burdett, David. “Wisdom Literature and the Promise Doctrine.” Trinity Journal 3 (Spring 1974):1-13.
Davis, John J. “The Rhetorical Use of Numbers in the Old Testament.” Grace Journal 8 (1967): 40-48
Franklin, Benjamin. “The Way of Wealth” [1758].”
Frost, Robert “Mending Wall [Poem, 1914].
Hawkins, Tom R. “The Wife of Noble Character in Proverbs 31:10-31.” Bibliotheca Sacra 153 (1995) 12-23.
Hildebrandt, Ted. “Proverbs 22:6a: Train Up a Child?” Grace Theo Journ 9.1 (1988) 3-19. Html; Word Document;
Johnson, John E. “An Analysis of Proverbs 1:1-7.” Bib Sac 144 (576) (1987) 419-432.
Millard, A. R. “In Praise of Ancient Scribes.” Bible & Spade 2.2-4 (Spring-Autumn, 1982): 33‑46.
Paterson, W. P. “The Fools of the Bible.” ExpTimes 11 (1899): 13-16.
Stek, John. “Proverbs: An Introduction.” Calvin Theological Journal 36.1 (2001) 342-371.
Wilbanks, Pete F. “The Persuasion of Form: A Rhetorical Analysis of Pr. 31:10-31,” Evangelical Theological Society Southeast Regional, March 2001; Toccoa Falls, GA. 14 pgs.
Wolters, Al. “Nature and Grace in the Interpretation of Proverbs 31:10-31.” Calvin Theo Journ 19 (1984): 153-166.
Zuck, Roy B. “Hebrew Words of ‘Teach’.” Bib Sac 121 (1964): 228-235.
GotQuestions.org
Book of Proverbs – Bible Survey
What should we learn from the life of Solomon?
What is a proverb in the Bible?
What is synonymous parallelism in Hebrew poetry?
What is antithetical parallelism in Hebrew poetry?
What is synthetic parallelism in Hebrew poetry?
What is emblematic parallelism in Hebrew poetry?
How is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom?
What is wisdom? What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?
What is a fool according to the book of Proverbs?
Why is wisdom referred to as a she in Proverbs?
Does the Bible teach that Sophia is the goddess of wisdom?
Why are both wisdom and foolishness pictured as women in Proverbs?
Why didn’t Solomon follow his own advice on women?
What does it mean to lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6)?
What is a sluggard? What does Proverbs teach about sluggards?
What are the seven things God hates?
What does the Bible mean when it speaks against haughty eyes?
What are the seven pillars of wisdom in Proverbs 9:1?
How does love cover all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12)?
How does fearing God add length to a person’s life (Proverbs 10:27)?
What does it mean that a righteous person cares for the needs of animals (Proverbs 12:10)?
How does oppressing the poor show contempt for their Maker (Proverbs 14:31)?
How can we commit our work to the Lord and have our plans established (Proverbs 16:3)?
How can a friend stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)?
How and when should we overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11)?
Does the Bible promise that godly parenting will always result in godly children (Proverbs 22:6)?
Do Proverbs 26:4 and 26:5 contradict? How can both verses be true?
What does it mean that iron sharpens iron?
What does it mean to train up a child in the way he should go?
What does it mean to fear God?
Is it true that life and death is in the power of the tongue?
Who was Agur son of Jakeh (Proverbs 30)?
Who was King Lemuel in Proverbs 31?
What should we learn from the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31?
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