Proverbs 1:2-6

Proverbs 1:2-6

[2] To know  wisdom  and instruction;  to perceive  the words  of understanding;  [3] To receive  the instruction  of wisdom,  justice,  and judgment,  and equity;  [4] To give  subtilty  to the simple,  to the young man  knowledge  and discretion.  [5] A wise  man will hear,  and will increase  learning;  and a man of understanding  shall attain  unto wise counsels:  [6] To understand  a proverb,  and the interpretation;  the words  of the wise,  and their dark sayings. 

What does Proverbs 1:2-6 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"The Book of Proverbs has two purposes: to give moral skillfulness and to give mental discernment. The first purpose is developed in Proverbs 1:3-4; then, after a parenthetical exhortation in Proverbs 1:5, the second purpose is developed in Proverbs 1:6." [1]
"The purpose of all these sections [2] is the inculcation of certain cardinal social virtues, such as industry, thrift, discretion, truthfulness, honesty, chastity, kindness, forgiveness, warning against the corresponding vices, and praise of wisdom as the guiding principle of life." [3]
This book claims to offer wisdom (Heb. hokmah) to the reader. The words "wise" and "wisdom" occur about125 times in Proverbs. It is this wisdom that the Apostle Paul commanded Christians to walk in (cf. Ephesians 5:15).
Wisdom is "God"s fixed order for life, an order opposed to chaos and death.
"No longer can wisdom be defined simplistically as "the practical application of knowledge." Instead wisdom must be thought of as a broad, theological concept denoting a fixed, righteous order to which the wise man submits his life." [4]
""Wisdom" (hokmah) basically means "skill."" [1]
". . . wisdom means being skillful and successful in one"s relationships and responsibilities. It involves observing and following the Creator"s principles of order in the moral universe." [1]
"It isn"t enough simply to be educated and have knowledge, as important as education is. We also need Wisdom of Solomon , which is the ability to use knowledge. Wise men and women have the competence to grasp the meaning of a situation and understand what to do and how to do it in the right way at the right time....
"The pages of history are filled with the names of brilliant and gifted people who were smart enough to become rich and famous but not wise enough to make a successful and satisfying life. Before his death, one of the world"s richest men said that he would have given all his wealth to make one of his six marriages succeed. It"s one thing to make a living, but quite something else to make a life." [7]
"When a man knows the right and does the right he is a wise man. It is the wedding of knowing and doing-it is the junction of the good and the true." [8]
This is not to say that everyone who submits to God will be able to make equally wise decisions in life. Some Christians, for example, demonstrate more wisdom than others. This is another sense in which Proverbs uses the word wisdom. Nevertheless, essentially, wisdom is a proper or skillful orientation toward God. [9]
"Proverbial wisdom is characterized by short, pithy statements; but the speculative Wisdom of Solomon , such as Ecclesiastes or Job , uses lengthy monologues and dialogues to probe the meaning of life, the problem of good and evil, and the relationship between God and people." [10]
The key words in Proverbs 1:2 through4have the following meanings.
WordVerseMeaningWisdom Psalm 1:2 aSkillfulnessInstruction Psalm 1:2 aChild trainingUnderstanding Psalm 1:2 bDiscernmentRighteousness Psalm 1:3 bRight behaviorJustice Psalm 1:3 bCorrect decisionsEquity Psalm 1:3 bMoral integrityPrudence Psalm 1:4 aSensibility in practical mattersDiscretion Psalm 1:4 bThoughtfulness
A second purpose of the book is to solve riddles: thought-provoking problems about life. The riddles in view ( Proverbs 1:6) are any puzzles that are unclear and need interpreting, not just what we call riddles today (cf. Numbers 12:8; Judges 14:12; 1 Kings 10:1; Ezekiel 17:2; Habakkuk 2:6). [11]
Proverbs 1:2-6 set forth four objectives. God gave us these proverbs to impart an intimate acquaintance with wisdom and discipline ( Proverbs 1:2 a) and to impart understanding of wisdom sayings ( Proverbs 1:2 b, 6). He also wanted to impart moral insight ( Proverbs 1:3) and to identify the intended recipients of wisdom ( Proverbs 1:4). [12]
"The Book of Proverbs was not intended to be read as an exhaustive book of right actions but as a selective example of godly wisdom." [2]8