Proverbs Bible Study Resources

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Proverbs.

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Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encyclopedias; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **

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Basics

• Proverbs are often figurative, pointing beyond themselves.
• Proverbs are intensely practical.
• Proverbs are worded to be memorable, not technically precise. Expect hyperbole, emotive language and poetic phrases.
• Proverbs are not designed to support selfish behavior.
• Proverbs which strongly reflect ancient culture may need a sensible “translation” to retain their meaning.
• Proverbs are not guarantees from God, but poetic guidelines for good behavior.
• Proverbs may use highly specific language, exaggeration or any literary technique to make their point.
• Proverbs give good advice for wise approaches to certain aspects of life, but are not exhaustive in their coverage.

Wisdom Literature

• Job, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Song of Solomon
• General interest in humanity and universal pronouncements (as opposed to the people of Israel)
• Grounded in a theology of creation
• Fear of YHWH as proper context for wisdom, sometimes explicitly stated, but often implicit
• Questioning attitude about the basic problems of life: why is there suffering, inequality, death, why do the wicked prosper, etc.

Proverbial Patterns

• Identity: proverbs of equivalence, invariable association (e.g. Proverbs 14:10; “A friend in need is a friend indeed”).
• Non-identity: proverbs of contrast, paradox (e.g. Proverbs 27:7: “All that glitters is not gold”).
• Similarity: proverbs of analogy, type (e.g. Proverbs 25:20; “A chip off the old block”).
• Situational characterization: proverbs which classify people according to actions or situations (e.g. Proverbs 26:15; “A rolling stone gathers no moss”).
• Comparison: proverbs which establish values, priority, proportion or degree by using comparative or superlative (e.g. Proverbs 22:1; “better late than never”).
• Consequences: proverbs which tell the result of human character and/or behavior (e.g. Proverbs 26:27; “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”).

Major Themes in Proverbs

• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
• Relationships between parents and children
• Contrast between the just and the wicked
• Values of good friends and a loving spouse
• Civic virtues of honesty, generosity, justice and integritiy
• Mastery of passions, self-control (especially sexual)
• Proper use of speech and silence
• Stewardship over wealth and possession, prudence, hard work
• The value of wisdom over folly or foolishness

Structure

1. Chapters 1-9: Proverbs to Youth
2. Chapters10-22: Proverbs of Solomon (Hezekiah)
3. Chapters 22:17-24:22: Sayings of the Wise
4. Chapters 24:23-34: Further sayings of the wise
5. Chapters 25-29: More proverbs of Solomon
6. Chpater 31: Sayings of King Lemuel

Genre: Understanding Hebrew Poetry

Section 1: Background

Background & Outlines

• Ray Stedman: Overview of each Book
• John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
• Biblehub: Timeline of Proverbs
• ESV: Introduction to Proverbs
• ESV: The Global Message of Proverbs
• NIV: Introduction to Proverbs
• NIV: Wisdom Literature
• James van Dine: Analysis of Proverbs 
• Charles Swindoll: Book of Proverbs Overview
• JVernon McGee: Proverbs Overview 
• Paul van Gorder: OT Reflections of Christ in Proverbs
• William Orr: Keys To Proverbs 
• David Malick: An Introduction to the Book of Proverbs
• David Malick: An Argument of the Book of Proverbs 
• Major Characteristics of Hebrew Poetry: Parallelism 

Section 2: Maps

Maps from Holman Bible Atlas

• The Battle at Ebenezer and the Loss of the Ark
• The Ministry of Samuel and Anointment of Saul
• The Kingdom of Saul and His Wars
• Saul, 1000 BCE
• David’s Flight from Saul
• David’s Rise to Power
• David in Conquest of Canaan
• David’s Wars of Conquest
• Kingdom of David and Solomon
• The United Monarchy under Solomon (1)
• The United Monarchy under Solomon (2)
• Solomon’s Economic Enterprises
• Solomon’s Building Activities
• Solomon’s Temple
• Jerusalem in the Time of David and Solomon

Section 3: Key Words

Key Words

• Fear of the LORD (14x) – Prov. 1:7,29; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26-27; 15:16,33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17
• Wisdom (48x/47v) – Prov. 1:2,7,20; 2:2,6-7,10; 3:13,19,21; 4:5,7,11; 5:1; 7:4; 8:1,5,11-12,14; 9:1,10; 10:13,23,31; 11:2; 13:10; 14:6,8,33; 15:33; 16:16; 17:16,24; 18:1,4; 19:8; 21:30; 23:9,23; 24:3,7,14; 29:3,15; 30:3; 31:26
• Wise (62x/58v) – Prov. 1:3,5-6; 3:7,35; 6:6; 8:33; 9:8-9,12; 10:1,8,14,19; 11:30; 12:15,18; 13:1,14,20; 14:1,3,16,24; 15:2,7,12,20,24,31; 16:14,21,23; 17:28; 18:15; 19:20; 20:1,18,26; 21:11,20,22; 22:17; 23:15,19,24; 24:5-6,23; 25:12; 26:5,12; 27:11; 28:11; 29:8-9,11; 30:24
• Fool(s) (58x) – Fool – Prov. 7:22; 10:8,10,18,23; 12:15; 13:16; 14:7,16; 15:5; 17:7,10,12,16,21,24,28; 18:2; 19:1,10; 20:3; 23:9; 24:7; 26:1,4-6,8,10-12; 27:3,22; 28:26; 29:11,20; 30:22; Fools – Prov. 1:7,22,32; 3:35; 8:5; 10:21; 12:23; 13:19-20; 14:8-9,24,33; 15:2,7,14; 16:22; 19:29; 26:3,7,9
• Folly (17x/17v) – Prov. 5:23; 9:6,13; 12:23; 13:16; 14:24,29; 15:2,14,21; 16:22; 17:12; 18:13; 24:9; 26:4-5,11
• Foolish (12x/11v) – Prov. 10:1,14; 11:29; 14:1,3; 15:20; 17:25; 19:13; 21:20; 29:9; 30:32
• My son (23x) – Prov. 1:8,10,15; 2:1; 3:1,11,21; 4:10,20; 5:1,20; 6:1,3,20; 7:1; 19:27; 23:15,19,26; 24:13,21; 27:11; 31:2
• Guidance (3x) – Prov. 11:14; 20:18; 24:6
• Knowledge (40x/39v) – Prov. 1:4,7,22,29; 2:5-6,10; 3:20; 5:2; 8:9-10,12; 9:10; 10:14; 11:9; 12:1,23; 13:16; 14:6-7,18; 15:2,7,14; 17:27; 18:15; 19:2,25,27; 20:15; 21:11; 22:12,17,20; 23:12; 24:4-5; 28:2; 30:3
• Understand(ing) (56x/55v) – Prov. 1:2,5-6; 2:2-3,6,11; 3:5,13,19; 4:1,5,7; 5:1; 7:4; 8:1,5,9,14; 9:4,6,10,16; 10:13,21,23; 11:12; 13:15; 14:6,8,29,33; 15:21,32; 16:16,21-22; 17:10,24,27; 18:2; 19:8,25; 20:5,24; 21:16,30; 23:23; 24:3; 28:2,5,11,16; 29:7,19; 30:2,18
• Instruction (16x) – Prov. 1:2-3,7-8; 4:1-2,13; 5:12,23; 8:10,33; 9:9; 10:17; 15:33; 23:23; 24:32
• Discipline (17x) – Prov. 3:11; 6:23; 7:22; 12:1; 13:1,18,24; 15:5,32; 16:22; 19:18,20,27; 22:15; 23:12-13
• Commandment/command (11x) – Prov. 2:1; 3:1; 4:4; 6:20,23; 7:1-2; 8:29; 10:8; 13:13; 19:16
• Truth (12x/12v) – Prov. 3:3; 8:7; 12:17,19; 14:22,25; 16:6; 20:28; 21:28; 22:21; 23:23; 29:14
• Righteous(ness)(90x/89v)– Prov. 1:3; 2:9,20; 3:33; 4:18; 8:8,18,20; 9:9; 10:2-3,6-7,11,16,20-21,24-25,28,30-32; 11:4-6,8-10,18-19,21,23,28,30-31; 12:3,5,7,10,12-13,21,26,28; 13:5-6,9,21-22,25; 14:19,32,34; 15:6,9,28-29; 16:8,12-13,31; 17:15,26; 18:5,10; 20:7,28; 21:3,12,15,18,21,26; 23:24; 24:15-16,24; 25:5,26; 28:1,12,28; 29:2,6-7,16,27; 31:9
• Evil (59x/55v)– Prov. 1:16,33; 2:12,14; 3:7; 4:14,16,27; 6:14,18,24; 8:13; 11:19,21,27; 12:2,12-13,20; 13:19; 14:16-17,19,22; 15:3,26,28; 16:4,6,17,27,30; 17:4,11,13,20; 19:23; 20:8,22,30; 21:10,27; 22:3; 24:1,8,19-20; 25:10; 27:12; 28:5,10,22; 29:6; 30:32; 31:12
• Wicked(ness) (91x/89v) – Prov. 2:22; 3:25,33; 4:14,17,19; 5:22; 6:12,18; 8:7; 9:7; 10:3,6-7,11,16,20,23-25,27-28,30,32; 11:5,7-8,10-11,18,23,31; 12:3,5-7,10,12,21,26; 13:5-6,9,17,25; 14:11,19,32; 15:6,8-9,28-29; 16:4,12; 17:4,15,23; 18:3,5; 19:28; 20:26; 21:4,7,10,12,18,27,29; 24:15-16,19-20,24-25; 25:5,26; 26:23,26; 28:1,4,12,15,28; 29:2,7,12,16,27.
• Life (46x) – Prov. 1:19; 2:19; 3:2,16,18,22; 4:10,13,22-23; 5:6; 6:23,26; 7:23; 8:35; 9:11; 10:11,16-17,27; 11:19,30; 12:10,28; 13:3,8,12,14; 14:27,30; 15:4,24,31; 16:15,17,22; 18:21; 19:23; 20:2; 21:21; 22:4,23; 29:10,24; 31:6,12.
• Live (14x/14v) – Prov. 1:18,33; 2:21; 3:29; 4:4; 7:2,23; 9:6; 14:25; 15:27; 21:9,19; 23:17; 25:24.
• Death (20x/20v) – Prov. 2:18; 5:5; 7:27; 8:36; 10:2; 11:4,19; 12:28; 13:14; 14:12,27; 16:14,25; 18:21; 19:18; 21:6,25; 24:11; 26:18; 28:17.
• Tongue (18x) – Prov. 6:17,24; 10:20,31; 12:18-19; 15:2,4; 16:1; 17:4; 18:21; 21:6,23; 25:15,23; 26:28; 28:23; 31:26.
• Way (80x/74v) – Prov. 1:15,19,31-32; 2:8,12-13,15,20; 3:6,17,23,31; 4:11,14,19,26; 5:6,8,21; 6:6,23; 7:8,25,27; 8:2,13,20,22,32; 9:6; 10:9,29; 11:5; 12:15,26,28; 13:6,15; 14:2,8,12,14; 15:9-10,19; 16:2,7,9,17,25,29,31; 17:23; 19:3; 20:14,24; 21:2,8,16,29; 22:5-6,25; 23:19,26; 25:26; 28:10; 29:15,27; 30:19-20; 31:3,27

Section 4: Encyclopedias

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

• Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Proverbs, Theology of
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Proverbs
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT Proverbs
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary Proverbs, Book of
• Fausset Bible Dictionary Proverbs, the Book of
• Holman Bible Dictionary Proverbs, Book of
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Proverbs, Book of
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Proverbs, Book of
• McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Proverbs, Book Of
• The Nuttall Encyclopedia Proverbs, Book of
• Morrish Bible Dictionary Proverbs, Book of
• Watson’s Theological Dictionary Proverbs
• 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Book of Proverbs
• Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Proverbs the book of
• The Jewish Encyclopedia Proverbs, Book of;  Proverbs

Section 5: Commentaries

Commentaries & Study Bibles

• Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Proverbs – Ligonier
• Best Commentaries on Proverbs – Tim Challies
• Best Commentaries on Proverbs
• Proverbs- A Mentor Commentary by John Kitchen
• Blue Letter Bible: Devotionals related to Proverbs
• Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Psalms
• Matthew Henry: Psalms
• Albert Barnes Notes: Proverbs
• Reformation Study Bible Notes: Proverbs
• Geneva Study Bible: Proverbs
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Proverbs

Bruce Waltke

• Programmed Syllabus – The Book of Proverbs (40 pages)
• Fundamentals for Preaching the Proverbs – Bruce Waltke
• Righteousness in Proverbs
• Seven Part Audio Series on Proverbs
• Proverbs – 17 messages Mp3

Section 6: Articles

Articles

• Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Pt 1 – Bruce Waltke (Bib Sacra 165:657, 2008)
• Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Pt 2 – Bruce Waltke (Bib Sacra 165:658, 2008)
• Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Pt 3 – Bruce Waltke (Bib Sacra 165:659, 2008)
• Fundamentals for Preaching the Book of Proverbs, Pt 4 – Bruce Waltke (Bib Sacra 165:660, 2008)
• The Doctrine Of The ‘Two Ways’ In Proverbs – Daniel Bricker (JETS 38:4, 1995)
• Wisdom’s Pedagogy: A Comparison of Proverbs 7 and 4Q184 – Scott Jones
• The Fear of the Lord as the ‘Principle’ of Wisdom – Henri Blocher
• Proverbs and Wisdom Books of the Ancient Near East: The Factual History of a Literary Form – K A Kitchen.
• Tim Chester: On Answering a Fool- Making Sense of the Book of Proverbs
• Greg Herrick: The Teaching of Proverbs on Work
• Greg Herrick: The Proverbs and the Idea of “Money”
• John Angell James: The Young Man’s Friend and Guide Through Life to Immortality – The Study of the Book of PROVERBS
• Danny Olinger: Is Wisdom Literature Eschatological?
• AW Pink: The Precepts and Understanding
• JC Ryle: Thoughts For Young Men
• Bellis, Alice Ogden. “The Gender and Motives of the Wisdom Teacher in Proverbs 7.” Bulletin for Biblical Research 6 (1996) 15-22. 
• Bland, Dave. “Formation of Character in the Book of Proverbs.”Restoration Quarterly 40.4 (1998) 221-237. 
• Burdett, David. “Wisdom Literature and the Promise Doctrine.” Trinity Journal 3 (Spring 1974):1-13. 
• Chisholm, Robert B. “‘Drink Water from Your Own Cistern’: A Literary Study of Proverbs 5:15-23.” Bibliotheca Sacra 157 (628) (2000) 397-409.
• Curtis, Edward M. “Old Testament Wisdom: A Model for Faith-Learning Integration,” Christian Scholars Review 15.3 (1986) 213-27.
• Davis, John J. “The Rhetorical Use of Numbers in the Old Testament.” Grace Journal 8 (1967): 40-48
• Franklin, Benjamin. “The Way of Wealth” [1758].”
• Frost, Robert “Mending Wall [Poem, 1914].
• Finkbeiner, Douglas. “An Analysis of the Structure of Proverbs 28 and 29.” Calvary Baptist Theol Journal 11.2 (1995) 1-14.
• Godbey, Allen Howard. “The Hebrew Masal.” The American Jounral of Semitic Langauges and Literature 39 (1922-23) 89-108.
• Hawkins, Tom R. “The Wife of Noble Character in Proverbs 31:10-31.” Bibliotheca Sacra 153 (1995) 12-23.
• Hildebrandt, Ted. “Proverbs 22:6a: Train Up a Child?” Grace Theo Journ 9.1 (1988) 3-19. Html; Word Document;
• Hildebrandt, Ted. “Justifying the Fear of God” [short version] (ETS Meeting, Atlanta, Nov. 18, 2010).
• Hildebrandt, Ted. “Motivation and Antithetic Parallelism in Proverbs 10-15. J of the Evangelical Theological Society 35.4 (1992) 433-444.
• Hildebrandt, Ted. “Proverbial Strings: Cohesion in Proverbs 10.” Grace Theological Journal 11.2 (1990) 171-185
• Hildebrandt, Ted.”The Proverb: an interdisciplinary approach to a biblical genre,” Tenure Paper, 70 pages. Gordon College, Sept. 1, 2005.
• Johnson, John E. “An Analysis of Proverbs 1:1-7.” Bib Sac 144 (576) (1987) 419-432.
• Millard, A. R. “In Praise of Ancient Scribes.” Bible & Spade 2.2-4 (Spring-Autumn, 1982): 33‑46.
• Moore, M. “Wise Women” or Wisdom Woman? A Biblical Study of Women’s Roles. Restoration Quarterly 35.3 (1993) 147-158.
• Parsons, Greg W. “Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Proverbs,” BibSac 150 (April-June, 1993) 151-70.
• Paterson, W. P. “The Fools of the Bible.” ExpTimes 11 (1899): 13-16.
• Patterson, Richard D. “The Widow, the Orphan and the Poor in the Old Testament and Extra-Biblical Literature.” BibSac 130 (1973): 223-34.
• Smith, Gary. “The Concept of God/the Gods as King in the Ancient Near East and the Bible.” Trinity Journal 3 (1982): 18-38.
• Steinmann, Andrew E. “Proverbs 1-9 as a Solomonic Composition,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 43.4 (2000) 659-674.
• Stek, John. “Proverbs: An Introduction.” Calvin Theological Journal 36.1 (2001) 342-371.
• Waltke, Bruce K. “The Book of Proverbs and Ancient Wisdom Literature.” Bibliotheca Sacra 136 (July-September 1979): 221-38.
• Waltke, Bruce K.”The Book of Proverbs and Old Testament Theology.” Bibliotheca Sacra 136 (October-December 1979):302-17.
• Waltke, Bruce K. “Does Proverbs Promise Too Much.” Andrews University Seminary Studies 34.3 (1996) 319-336.
• Wilbanks, Pete F. “Non-Proverb Proverbial Bookends: A Possible Lens for Viewing the Book of Proverbs,” Evangelical Theological Society Southwest Regional, March 26, 1999; New Orleans, LA. 45 pgs.
• Wilbanks, Pete F. “The Persuasion of Form: A Rhetorical Analysis of Pr. 31:10-31,” Evangelical Theological Society Southeast Regional, March 2001; Toccoa Falls, GA. 14 pgs.
• Wolters, Al. “Nature and Grace in the Interpretation of Proverbs 31:10-31.” Calvin Theo Journ 19 (1984): 153-166.
• Zuck, Roy B. “Hebrew Words of ‘Teach’.” Bib Sac 121 (1964): 228-235.

**Many thanks to PreceptAustin.org for compiling this list of articles.

Section 7: Got Questions

GotQuestions.org

• Book of Proverbs – Bible Survey
• What should we learn from the life of Solomon?
• What is a proverb in the Bible?
• What is synonymous parallelism in Hebrew poetry?
• What is antithetical parallelism in Hebrew poetry?
• What is synthetic parallelism in Hebrew poetry?
• What is emblematic parallelism in Hebrew poetry?
• How is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom?
• What is wisdom? What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?
• What is a fool according to the book of Proverbs?
• Why is wisdom referred to as a she in Proverbs?
• Does the Bible teach that Sophia is the goddess of wisdom?
• Why are both wisdom and foolishness pictured as women in Proverbs?
• Why didn’t Solomon follow his own advice on women?
• What does it mean to lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6)?
• What is a sluggard? What does Proverbs teach about sluggards?
• What are the seven things God hates?
• What does the Bible mean when it speaks against haughty eyes?
• What are the seven pillars of wisdom in Proverbs 9:1?
• How does love cover all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12)?
• How does fearing God add length to a person’s life (Proverbs 10:27)?
• What does it mean that a righteous person cares for the needs of animals (Proverbs 12:10)?
• How does oppressing the poor show contempt for their Maker (Proverbs 14:31)?
• How can we commit our work to the Lord and have our plans established (Proverbs 16:3)?
• How can a friend stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)?
• How and when should we overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11)?
• Does the Bible promise that godly parenting will always result in godly children (Proverbs 22:6)?
• Do Proverbs 26:4 and 26:5 contradict? How can both verses be true?
• What does it mean that iron sharpens iron?
• What does it mean to train up a child in the way he should go?
• What does it mean to fear God?
• Is it true that life and death is in the power of the tongue?
• Who was Agur son of Jakeh (Proverbs 30)?
• Who was King Lemuel in Proverbs 31?
• What should we learn from the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31?

Section 8: Next

Next: Ecclesiastes

Previous: Psalms

Resources: by Book of the Bible

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