Discourse 2: Don’t Resist Woman Wisdom (1:20–33)

Wisdom (1:20). Wisdom is personified as a woman here for the first time in the book (see sidebar). The fullest development of this metaphor is found in Proverbs 8:1–9:6.

Woman Wisdom

In a number of places in chapters 1–9 (see esp. 1:20–33; 8:1–9:6), Wisdom appears as a female character. Much discussion has taken place concerning her identity and background. Many see her description as connected to an ancient Near Eastern goddess, whether Asherah, Ishtar, Isis, or Maʿat.A-1 One can make the strongest case for the latter, since Maʿat, like wisdom, refers to the order of creation, truth, and justice. Often Maʾat appears to be no more than an abstract concept, but occasionally she appears as a goddess, though not one that has been given a developed personality in Egyptian literature.

Most likely Wisdom should be treated as a poetic personification. Obviously, she represents Yahweh’s wisdom. However, the fact that her seven-pillared house is located on the “highest point of the city” (9:3), the place where temples were located in ancient Near Eastern and Israelite cities, points to the fact that Wisdom should be associated with Yahweh himself.

A block statue of Senenmut and his student, Hatshepsut’s daughter Neferure

K. Torgeson, courtesy of the Altes Museum, Berlin