Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Parallel translations
- WEB then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
- BSB Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
- NKJV Then I was beside Himas a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
- NASB Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was His delight daily, Rejoicing always before Him,
- NLT I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.
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 the craftsman at God's side, a daily delight, always rejoicing before him. Wisdom shared in God's creative work with constant joy.
Overview
Here wisdom is portrayed as a skilled 'craftsman' beside God, full of delight in his presence. The Hebrew word's sense is debated, rendered by some as 'master worker' and by others as 'little child' or 'nursling,' but either way the scene radiates intimacy and joy in the creative work. Christians have long seen in this delighting companion at creation a foreshadowing of the eternal Son, the Father's beloved (John 17:24).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 1:1–3In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
- Isa 42:1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
- Matt 3:17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
- John 16:28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
- John 12:28Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
- Col 1:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
- Matt 17:5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 8:30 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.