Proverbs

Proverbs 8:23–30

²³From everlasting I was established,

from the beginning, before the earth began.

²⁴When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth,

when no springs were overflowing with water.

²⁵Before the mountains were settled,

before the hills, I was brought forth,

²⁶before He made the land or fields,

or any of the dust of the earth.

²⁷I was there when He established the heavens,

when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

²⁸when He established the clouds above,

when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

²⁹when He set a boundary for the sea,

so that the waters would not surpass His command,

when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

³⁰Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side,

and His delight^d day by day,

rejoicing always in His presence.

Footnotes

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.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
From everlasting	מֵ֭עוֹלָם	mê·‘ō·w·lām	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H5769 long duration, antiquity, futurity
I was established	נִסַּ֥כְתִּי	nis·saḵ·tî	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular	H5258 pour out
from the beginning	מֵרֹ֗אשׁ	mê·rōš	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H7218 head
before the earth	אָֽרֶץ׃	’ā·reṣ	Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
began	מִקַּדְמֵי־	miq·qaḏ·mê-	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct	H6924 front, east, aforetime

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When there were no	בְּאֵין־	bə·’ên-	Preposition-b; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
watery depths	תְּהֹמ֥וֹת	tə·hō·mō·wṯ	Noun - common plural	H8415 deep, sea, abyss
I was brought forth	חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי	ḥō·w·lā·lə·tî	Verb - Pual - Perfect - first person common singular	H2342 whirl, dance, writhe
when no	בְּאֵ֥ין	bə·’ên	Preposition-b; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
springs	מַ֝עְיָנ֗וֹת	ma‘·yā·nō·wṯ	Noun - masculine plural	H4599 spring
were overflowing	נִכְבַּדֵּי־	niḵ·bad·dê-	Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H3513 be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured
with water	מָֽיִם׃	mā·yim	Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Before	בְּטֶ֣רֶם	bə·ṭe·rem	Preposition-b; Adverb	H2962 not yet, ere, before that
the mountains	הָרִ֣ים	hā·rîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
were settled	הָטְבָּ֑עוּ	hā·ṭə·bā·‘ū	Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person common plural	H2883 sink, sink down
before	לִפְנֵ֖י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
the hills	גְבָע֣וֹת	ḡə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H1389 hill
I was brought forth	חוֹלָֽלְתִּי׃	ḥō·w·lā·lə·tî	Verb - Pual - Perfect - first person common singular	H2342 whirl, dance, writhe

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
before	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
He made	עָ֭שָׂה	‘ā·śāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
the land	אֶ֣רֶץ	’e·reṣ	Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
or fields	וְחוּצ֑וֹת	wə·ḥū·ṣō·wṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H2351 the outside
or any	וְ֝רֹ֗אשׁ	wə·rōš	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7218 head
of the dust	עָפְר֥וֹת	ʿå̄·p̄ə·rōṯ	Noun - masculine plural construct	H6083 dry earth, dust
of the earth	תֵּבֵֽל׃	tê·ḇêl	Noun - feminine singular	H8398 world

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I	אָ֑נִי	’ā·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
was there	שָׁ֣ם	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
when He established	בַּהֲכִינ֣וֹ	ba·hă·ḵî·nōw	Preposition-b; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H3559 be firm
the heavens	שָׁ֭מַיִם	šā·ma·yim	Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
when He inscribed	בְּח֥וּקוֹ	bə·ḥū·qōw	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H2710 cut in, inscribe, decree
a circle	ח֝֗וּג	ḥūḡ	Noun - masculine singular	H2329 vault
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the face	פְּנֵ֥י	pə·nê	Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
of the deep	תְהֽוֹם׃	ṯə·hō·wm	Noun - common singular	H8415 deep, sea, abyss

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
when He established	בְּאַמְּצ֣וֹ	bə·’am·mə·ṣōw	Preposition-b; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H553 be alert
the clouds	שְׁחָקִ֣ים	šə·ḥā·qîm	Noun - masculine plural	H7834 dust, cloud
above	מִמָּ֑עַל	mim·mā·‘al	Preposition-m; Adverb	H4605 higher part
when the fountains	עִינ֥וֹת	‘î·nō·wṯ	Noun - common plural construct	H5869 eye
of the deep	תְּהוֹם׃	tə·hōm	Noun - common singular	H8415 deep, sea, abyss
gushed forth	בַּ֝עֲז֗וֹז	ba·‘ă·zō·wz	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5810 be strong

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
when He set	בְּשׂ֘וּמ֤וֹ	bə·śū·mōw	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H7760 put, place, set
a boundary	חֻקּ֗וֹ	ḥuq·qōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H2706 something prescribed, a statute or due
for the sea	לַיָּ֨ם׀	lay·yām	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3220 sea
so that the waters	וּ֭מַיִם	ū·ma·yim	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
would not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
surpass	יַֽעַבְרוּ־	ya·‘aḇ·rū-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
His command	פִ֑יו	p̄îw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H6310 mouth
when He marked out	בְּ֝חוּק֗וֹ	bə·ḥū·qōw	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H2710 cut in, inscribe, decree
the foundations	מ֣וֹסְדֵי	mō·ws·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H4144 foundation
of the earth	אָֽרֶץ׃	’ā·reṣ	Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then I was	וָֽאֶהְיֶ֥ה	wā·’eh·yeh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a skilled craftsman	אָ֫מ֥וֹן	’ā·mō·wn	Noun - masculine singular	H525 artificer, architect, master-workman
at His side	אֶצְל֗וֹ	’eṣ·lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H681 conjunction, proximity
and	וָֽאֶהְיֶ֣ה	wā·’eh·yeh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
His delight	שַׁ֭עֲשֻׁעִים	‘ă·šu·‘îm	Noun - masculine plural	H8191 enjoyment
day	י֤וֹם׀	yō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
day	י֑וֹם	yō·wm	Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
rejoicing	מְשַׂחֶ֖קֶת	mə·śa·ḥe·qeṯ	Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular	H7832 laugh
always	בְּכָל־	bə·ḵāl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
in His presence	לְפָנָ֣יו	lə·p̄ā·nāw	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6440 face, before