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You are here: Home / 101Study Help / Resources by Book / Proverbs Bible Study Resources

Proverbs Bible Study Resources

September 4, 2020 By Krisan Marotta

Proverbs Bible Study Resources | WednesdayintheWord.com

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


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


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

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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 
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Section 2: Maps

Maps

  • Old Testament Maps (BibleHistory.com)
  • The Ancient Near East
  • Biblical Regions
  • Modern States and the Ancient Near East
  • Mesopotamia: Homeland of Abraham
  • Egypt: Land of Bondage
  • Syria and Lebanon
  • International Routes, The King’s Highway
  • Geography and Trade Routes of the Middle East
  • National Regions of Ancient Palestine
  • Physical Geography of Palestine
  • Topography of Palestine; Cross Sectional Views of Longitudinal Zones
  • Northern Coastal Plains
  • Plain of Dor, Plain of Sharon, Samaria, et al.
  • Philistine Plain, Shephelah, Judah, and the Dead Sea
  • Arabah, Negeb, Wildernesses of Zin and Paran
  • The Old City of Jerusalem Today  
  • Modern Political Divisions of Ancient Palestine
  • Climate Patterns of Ancient Palestine
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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
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Section 4: Encyclopedias

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

  • Proverbs, Theology of – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
  • 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
  • Hawker’s Poor Man’s Dictionary Proverbs
  • People’s Dictionary of the Bible 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
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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
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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.
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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?
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Bible Study Helps

  • Bible Study 101
  • Interpreting Narratives
  • Study Software & websites
  • More Maps & Charts
  • Hebrew word studies by Precepts Austin
  • Books on how to study the Bible
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Section 8: Next

Next: Ecclesiastes

Previous: Psalms

Resources: by Book of the Bible

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Related posts:

  1. Proverbs-Ecclesiastes quotes in the new Testament
  2. Study Resources by Book of the Bible
  3. Song of Solomon Bible Study Resources
  4. Job Bible Study Resources
  5. Psalms Bible Study Resources

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