Proverbs
Short sayings and longer poems that teach how to live wisely before God.
What the sources say, and how sure we are
- The text says
Proverbs names Solomon in 1:1, 10:1, and 25:1. It also names the Wise (22:17), Agur (30:1), and King Lemuel (31:1). Chapters 25–29 are said to have been copied by the men of King Hezekiah.Prov 1:1; Prov 10:1; Prov 22:17; Prov 25:1; Prov 30:1; Prov 31:1
- The text says
First Kings says Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs.1 Kgs 4:29–34
- Outside evidence
The Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope shows that wisdom teaching in short sayings existed across the ancient Near East. Its sayings are closely parallel to Proverbs 22:17–24:22, but scholars disagree about the date of the Egyptian text and which way any borrowing went.Instruction of Amenemope
- Debated
Many scholars accept that much of Proverbs goes back to Solomon’s time, while others see the book as gathered much later, in the time of Hezekiah or after the exile, from earlier sayings. This site presents Solomon as the main named source and the book as edited in stages.
- Christian conclusion
In Proverbs 8 wisdom speaks as a person present at creation, and the New Testament calls Christ the wisdom of God.Prov 8; 1 Cor 1:24; Col 2:3