When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Parallel translations
- WEB When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
- BSB When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
- NKJV When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.
- NASB “When there were no ocean depths, I was born, When there were no springs abounding with water.
- NLT I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Wisdom was brought forth before the deeps and springs of water existed. She predates the most ancient features of creation.
Overview
Using vivid imagery of birth, the passage portrays wisdom as present before the primeval waters of the world. The point is wisdom's absolute precedence over everything created. This poetic language magnifies God's wisdom in creation and, for the Christian, points to the One who was 'in the beginning with God' (John 1:2).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Jn 4:9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
- Prov 3:20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
- Gen 1:2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
- Heb 1:5For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
- John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
- Ps 2:7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
- John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- John 5:20For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 8:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.