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Tag: Proverbs

Gentile Contributors of the Bible —

Though largely Jewish, the Bible contains some contributions from Gentile writers.

Gentile Contributors of the Bible —

Though largely Jewish, the Bible contains some contributions from Gentile writers.

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While the vast majority of the Biblical text was penned by Jews, there are a few contributions from non-Jewish writers as well. Proverbs 30, for example, was written by a man named Agur while Proverbs 31 is attributed to King Lemuel. While their identities are unknown to us since they
Proverbs and the Two Greatest Commandments —

Is the Book of Proverbs just a copy of secular wisdom literature?

Proverbs and the Two Greatest Commandments —

Is the Book of Proverbs just a copy of secular wisdom literature?

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Although King Solomon had a God-given wisdom that was unmatched by anyone (1 Kings 4:30-31), he was not the only wiseman of the ancient east. In fact, Babylon, Egypt, and Edom (among others) were all known for their wise sages. Edom was founded by Jacob’s brother Esau and seems to
Proverbs & Beyond —

Exploring proverbial sayings , prophetic oracles, and other wisdom in the Old Testament.

Proverbs & Beyond —

Exploring proverbial sayings , prophetic oracles, and other wisdom in the Old Testament.

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The word “proverb,” from which the Book of Proverbs derives its name, is a translation of the Hebrew māšāl (pronounced maw-shawl’). Put simply, māšāl or “Proverbs are simple, moral statements (or illustrations) that highlight and teach fundamental realities about life.” While the Book of Proverbs contains over five hundred of
Dairy Delicacies —

How dairy products were manufactured in the ancient Near East.

Dairy Delicacies —

How dairy products were manufactured in the ancient Near East.

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The Hebrew word חֶמְאָה (ḥem’â) occurs no less than ten times in nine different verses throughout the Old Testament canon (Gen. 18:8; Deut. 32:14; Judges 5:25; 2 Samuel 17:29; Job 20:17, 29:6; Prov. 30:33; Isaiah 7:15, 22).[1] The King James Version of the Bible always translates this word as “butter”
Of Secular and Sacred Wisdom: Socrates —

Part III. “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” Juxtaposing the ancient wisdom of the Athenian gadfly and Jerusalem’s philosopher king.

Of Secular and Sacred Wisdom: Socrates —

Part III. “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” Juxtaposing the ancient wisdom of the Athenian gadfly and Jerusalem’s philosopher king.

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The ancient Near East held to a spiritually intimate, yet cosmic view of wisdom, a kind of judicial sovereignty over chaos and order. Israel identified this source of wisdom as Yahweh––the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob––who was also the Creator of the cosmos and Author of life. The Greeks
Of Secular and Sacred Wisdom: Solomon —

Part II. “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” Juxtaposing the ancient wisdom of the Athenian gadfly and Jerusalem’s philosopher king.

Of Secular and Sacred Wisdom: Solomon —

Part II. “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” Juxtaposing the ancient wisdom of the Athenian gadfly and Jerusalem’s philosopher king.

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On the cusp of East and West, one thousand years before the apostle Paul addressed the Areopagus, and well before Aristotle (c.384-322 BC), Plato (c.428-347 BC), and Socrates (c.469-399 BC) catapulted a new era of Western philosophy that still persists today, and roughly four hundred years before natural philosopher Thales