Proverbs

Proverbs 8:1–5

1Does not wisdom call out,

and understanding raise her voice?

2On the heights overlooking the road,

at the crossroads she takes her stand.

3Beside the gates to the city,

at the entrances she cries out:

4“To you, O men, I call out,

and my cry is to the sons of men.

5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd;

O fools, gain understanding.a

Footnotes

  • a 8:5 Or instruct your minds

Read all of Proverbs 8

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Proverbs 8:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Does notהֲלֹֽא־hă·lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
wisdomחָכְמָ֥הḥāḵ·māhNoun - feminine singularH2451 wisdom
call outתִקְרָ֑אṯiq·rāVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
and understandingוּ֝תְבוּנָ֗הū·ṯə·ḇū·nāhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH8394 intelligence, argument, caprice
raiseתִּתֵּ֥ןtit·tênVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH5414 give, put, set
her voiceקוֹלָֽהּ׃qō·w·lāhNoun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singularH6963 sound, voice

Proverbs 8:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
On the heightsבְּרֹאשׁ־bə·rōš-Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH7218 head
overlookingעֲלֵי־‘ă·lê-PrepositionH5921 height
the roadדָ֑רֶךְḏā·reḵNoun - common singularH1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
at the crossroadsבֵּ֖יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
she takes her standנִצָּֽבָה׃niṣ·ṣā·ḇāhVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH5324 take one's stand, stand

Proverbs 8:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Besideלְיַד־lə·yaḏ-Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
the gatesשְׁעָרִ֥יםšə·‘ā·rîmNoun - masculine pluralH8179 gate
toלְפִי־lə·p̄î-Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular constructH6310 mouth
the cityקָ֑רֶתqā·reṯNoun - feminine singularH7176 town, city
at the entrancesמְב֖וֹאmə·ḇō·wNoun - masculine singular constructH3996 entrance, a coming in, entering
she cries outתָּרֹֽנָּה׃tā·rōn·nāhVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine pluralH7442 give a ringing cry

Proverbs 8:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
To youאֲלֵיכֶ֣ם’ă·lê·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine pluralH413 motion to
O menאִישִׁ֣ים’î·šîmNoun - masculine pluralH376 man
I call outאֶקְרָ֑א’eq·rāVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
and my cryוְ֝קוֹלִ֗יwə·qō·w·lîConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH6963 sound, voice
is toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbə·nêNoun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
of menאָדָֽם׃’ā·ḏāmNoun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind

Proverbs 8:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
O simple onesפְתָאיִ֣םp̄ə·ṯā·yimNoun - masculine pluralH6612 simple
learnהָבִ֣ינוּhā·ḇî·nūVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralH995 discern
to be shrewdעָרְמָ֑ה‘ā·rə·māhNoun - feminine singularH6195 craftiness, prudence
O foolsוּ֝כְסִילִ֗יםū·ḵə·sî·lîmConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine pluralH3684 stupid fellow, dullard, fool
gain understandingהָבִ֥ינוּhā·ḇî·nūVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralH995 discern

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Proverbs 8:1 Proverbs 1:20–21 · Matthew 3:3 · John 7:37

Proverbs 8:2 Proverbs 9:14

Proverbs 8:3 Job 29:7

Proverbs 8:4 Matthew 11:15 · Psalm 50:1 · John 3:16 · Psalm 49:1–3 · Revelation 22:17

Proverbs 8:5 Proverbs 1:22 · Proverbs 9:4 · Revelation 3:17–18 · Acts 26:18

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.