Proverbs 9:10
Proverbs 9:10 in Multiple Translations
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One gives a wise mind
Honoring the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; knowledge of the Holy One brings insight.
The beginning of wisedome is the feare of the Lord, and the knowledge of holy things, is vnderstanding.
The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence.
If you want to be wise, you must start by revering Yahweh, and if you know God, the Holy One, you will understand which teachings are wise/true.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 9:10
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 9:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תְּחִלַּ֣ת
חָ֭כְמָה
יִרְאַ֣ת
יְהוָ֑ה
וְ/דַ֖עַת
קְדֹשִׁ֣ים
בִּינָֽה
תְּחִלַּ֣ת
tᵉchillâh
H8462
beginning
N-fs
חָ֭כְמָה
chokmâh
H2451
wisdom
N-fs
יִרְאַ֣ת
yirʼâh
H3374
fear
N-fs
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
וְ/דַ֖עַת
daʻath
H1847
knowledge
Conj | N-fs
קְדֹשִׁ֣ים
qâdôwsh
H6918
holy
Adj
בִּינָֽה
bîynâh
H998
understanding
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 9:10
תְּחִלַּ֣ת
tᵉchillâh
H8462
"beginning"
N-fs
In the Bible, this word means the start of something, like the beginning of a project or a new phase of life, as seen in Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: 1) beginning, first 1a) the first time 1b) from the beginning, in the beginning (with prep)
Usage: Occurs in 21 OT verses. KJV: begin(-ning), first (time). See also: Genesis 13:3; 2 Kings 17:25; Proverbs 9:10.
חָ֭כְמָה
chokmâh
H2451
"wisdom"
N-fs
Wisdom refers to skill, prudence, or good judgment in areas like war, administration, or religion, as seen in the book of Proverbs.
Definition: 1) wisdom 1a) skill (in war) 1b) wisdom (in administration) 1c) shrewdness, wisdom 1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs) 1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)
Usage: Occurs in 141 OT verses. KJV: skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit. See also: Exodus 28:3; Proverbs 5:1; Psalms 37:30.
יִרְאַ֣ת
yirʼâh
H3374
"fear"
N-fs
This Hebrew word for fear can also mean reverence or respect, especially when it comes to God. It's used to describe a feeling of awe or terror, and is often translated as 'fear' or 'dreadful' in the KJV.
Definition: 1) fear, terror, fearing 1a) fear, terror 1b) awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear) 1c) fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety 1d) revered
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] dreadful, [idiom] exceedingly, fear(-fulness). See also: Genesis 20:11; Proverbs 1:29; Psalms 2:11.
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
וְ/דַ֖עַת
daʻath
H1847
"knowledge"
Conj | N-fs
In the Bible, daath means knowledge or understanding, like when Solomon asked God for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:9. It involves skill and perception, and is often linked to wisdom. This concept appears in the book of Proverbs.
Definition: 1) knowledge 1a) knowledge, perception, skill 1b) discernment, understanding, wisdom
Usage: Occurs in 91 OT verses. KJV: cunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly). See also: Genesis 2:9; Proverbs 14:7; Psalms 19:3.
קְדֹשִׁ֣ים
qâdôwsh
H6918
"holy"
Adj
Holy means set apart or sacred, used to describe God, angels, and saints. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things or people dedicated to God's service, like the Temple in Jerusalem or the prophets who spoke on God's behalf.
Definition: : holy sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart
Usage: Occurs in 108 OT verses. KJV: holy (One), saint. See also: Exodus 19:6; Psalms 89:19; Psalms 16:3.
בִּינָֽה
bîynâh
H998
"understanding"
N-fs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means understanding or discernment, like having wisdom or knowledge. It appears in books like Proverbs and Psalms, guiding people to make good decisions.
Definition: 1) understanding, discernment 1a) act 1b) faculty 1c) object 1d) personified Aramaic equivalent: bi.nah (בִּינָה "understanding" H0999)
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: knowledge, meaning, [idiom] perfectly, understanding, wisdom. See also: Deuteronomy 4:6; Proverbs 4:7; Proverbs 1:2.
Study Notes — Proverbs 9:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 9:10 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 9:10
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 9:10
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 9:10
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 9:10
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
- Sermons on Proverbs 9:10
Context — The Way of Wisdom
8Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 12If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 111:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever! |
| 2 | Job 28:28 | And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” |
| 3 | Proverbs 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. |
| 4 | Ecclesiastes 12:13 | When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. |
| 5 | Proverbs 2:5 | then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. |
| 6 | John 17:3 | Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. |
| 7 | 1 John 5:20 | And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. |
| 8 | 1 Chronicles 28:9 | As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. |
| 9 | Proverbs 30:3 | I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One. |
| 10 | Matthew 11:27 | All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. |
Proverbs 9:10 Summary
This verse tells us that having a deep respect and reverence for God, known as the fear of the LORD, is the starting point for gaining wisdom. When we understand who God is and how holy He is, we begin to see the world in a new light and can make wise decisions. As we read in Psalm 111:10, the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and it is through this fear that we can gain a deeper understanding of God and His ways. By fearing the LORD and seeking to know Him, we can gain wisdom and insight that will guide us in our daily lives, as promised in James 1:5, where it says that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God, who gives generously to all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to fear the LORD?
Fearing the LORD means having a deep respect and reverence for God, recognizing His power and authority, as seen in Psalm 111:10, which says that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
Is the fear of the LORD the same as being afraid of God?
No, the fear of the LORD is not the same as being afraid of God in a negative sense; rather, it is a positive fear that motivates us to obey and trust Him, as explained in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, where Moses exhorts the Israelites to fear God and walk in His ways.
How does knowledge of the Holy One lead to understanding?
Knowledge of the Holy One, who is God, leads to understanding because it helps us to see the world and our lives from God's perspective, giving us wisdom and insight, as stated in Proverbs 2:6, which says that the LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
What is the relationship between wisdom and the fear of the LORD?
The fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom, as stated in this verse, and it is through this fear that we can gain wisdom and understanding, as also seen in Job 28:28, which says that the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can cultivate a deeper fear of the LORD in my life, and how will this impact my relationships and decisions?
- How does my understanding of God's holiness impact my daily life, and what are some practical ways that I can apply this understanding to my thoughts and actions?
- In what ways do I see the fear of the LORD and knowledge of the Holy One leading to understanding in my own life, and what are some areas where I need to grow in these areas?
- What are some common misconceptions about the fear of the LORD, and how can I ensure that my understanding of this concept is rooted in Scripture?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord [is] the beginning of wisdom,.... This shows who the wise men are, and in what true wisdom lies; no man is wise till he fears the Lord, and he that does so is a wise man, at
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. The fear of the Lord (is) the beginning of wisdom - repeated from Proverbs 1:7.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
Of the holy; either, 1. Of holy men, whether such as all saints learn, or rather such as the holy men of God, the servants of this wisdom, teach from God’ s word; or rather, 2. Of holy things, the Hebrew word being here taken in the neuter gender, as it is , and elsewhere; for this seems best to answer to the fear of the Lord in the other branch. Is understanding; is the only true, and necessary, and useful knowledge.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.Ver. 10. The fear of the Lord.] Here it is given as a reason why wise men are the better for sharp and seasonable admonition, because the fear of the Lord is in them. This makes them, when they are reproved of all, "fall upon their faces, worship God, and say, God is in you of a truth." What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? How shall we justify ourselves? "God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants," &c. And the knowledge of the holy.] That is, Of the holy God. Holy is here in the plural number, importing the Trinity of Persons, as likewise Joshua 24:19. Howbeit we may well take in here holy angels and saints, whose kingdom is in Daniel said to be the same with the kingdom of God, and whose knowledge is the right understanding of God’ s will revealed in his word.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
(10) The fear of the Lord . . .—Comp. Isaiah 11:2, where the “spirit of knowledge” and of the “fear of the Lord” is counted as the gift of God. (For the general sense of the passage, see above, on Proverbs 1:7.) Knowledge of the holy—i.e., “the Holy One,” as in Proverbs 30:3.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
Verse 10. The fear of the Lord] See on Proverbs 1:7. The knowledge of the holy; קדשים kedoshim, of the holy ones: Sanctorum, of the saints. - Vulgate. βουληαγιων, the counsel of the holy persons.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 9:10
10. the beginning of wisdom] See Proverbs 1:7, note, where however the Heb. word for “beginning” is different. Between the antagonistic companies (dealt with in Proverbs 9:7-9) of “her children” (Matthew 11:19), who have already accepted her invitation, and who love her for her reproofs and profit by her instruction (Proverbs 9:8-9), and of the “scorners” and “wicked,” who hate and defame her (Proverbs 9:7-8), there is the as yet neutral company of the “simple,” to whom Wisdom now resumes her direct appeal. And in doing so she reverts to first principles, and lays down again the essential condition on which alone wisdom can be attained. the holy] Rather, the Holy One. The word is plural, the plural of excellence or dignity. The parallel between the clauses of the verse is thus preserved. The same word occurs in Proverbs 30:3; Hosea 11:12 [Hebrews 12:1], where it is rendered, as it is here, the Holy One, in R.V. The A.V., in its rendering of the phrase, follows the LXX. (βουλὴἁγίων) and Vulg. (scientia sanctorum).
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 9:10
The holy - The word in the Hebrew is plural, agreeing, probably, with אלהים 'elohı̂ym understood (so in Proverbs 30:3). The knowledge of the Most Holy One stands as the counterpart to the fear of Yahweh.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 9:10
10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom — See on Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 2:5.
Sermons on Proverbs 9:10
| Sermon | Description | |
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How to Experience Personal Revival by Andrew Strom | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of experiencing revival in one's life. He explains that revival is a state of continuous, close communion with God. The founda |
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Aaron's Failure by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of his daughter giving a testimony before leaving for Nepal. She attributes her faith and presence at the meeting to her pa |
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Continue in Sin by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of addressing hidden sins and lust in the hearts and minds of believers. He explains that God considers these hidden sins to |
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Attributes of God (Series 1): The Holiness of God by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of conversion and laments its decline in society. He attributes this decline to the forgetting of God as the Holy One of Isra |
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The Holiness of God - Part 1 by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the holiness of God and the need for reverence and sanctification in His presence. He refers to the story of Moses encountering God at the b |
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Five Rules for Christian Living - Part 1 by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of five rules for believers. The first rule is to have a reverent attitude towards all created things, as they are seen as th |
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Five Rules for Christian Living - Part 2 by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a holy fear and reverence for God. He explains that this kind of fear cannot be induced by external factors like fa |