The Meaning of Proverbs 8:24 Explained

Proverbs 8:24

KJV: When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

YLT: In there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy with waters,

Darby: When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.

ASV: When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When [there were] no depths,  I was brought forth;  when [there were] no fountains  abounding  with water. 

What does Proverbs 8:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 8:22-36 - Finding Wisdom, Finding Life
The world did not come into being by chance. It was created by an intelligent Creator. Nothing is arbitrary or by accident. Law is the expression of the perfect will of God. It is founded on the inherent necessity which is at the heart of all things; and it is according to unchanging law that all things subsist. Yet never forget that God is Redeemer, as well as Creator, and reserves to Himself the right of suffering the infliction of a broken law, that He may step in to redeem those who are penitent and believing.
It would seem as if in Luke 7:35 our Lord appropriated these sublime words as applicable to Himself. How glorious it is that He appropriates Proverbs 8:31! He does not delight in us after we are redeemed, but before; and it is on this that He bases His appeal: Blessed are they that keep My ways, Proverbs 8:32. Let us watch daily at His gates, and wait at the posts of His doors. For to find Him is to find eternal life, 1 John 4:19. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 8

1  the fame
6  and evidence of wisdom
10  The excellence
12  the nature
15  the power
18  the riches
22  and the eternity of wisdom
32  Wisdom is to be desired for the blessedness it brings

What do the individual words in Proverbs 8:24 mean?

When [there were] no depths I was brought forth when [there were] no fountains abounding with water
בְּאֵין־ תְּהֹמ֥וֹת חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי בְּאֵ֥ין מַ֝עְיָנ֗וֹת נִכְבַּדֵּי־ מָֽיִם

בְּאֵין־  When  [there  were]  no 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
תְּהֹמ֥וֹת  depths 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: תְּהֹום  
Sense: deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep, sea.
חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי  I  was  brought  forth 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חוּל 
Sense: to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained.
בְּאֵ֥ין  when  [there  were]  no 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מַ֝עְיָנ֗וֹת  fountains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַעְיָן  
Sense: spring.
נִכְבַּדֵּי־  abounding  with 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
מָֽיִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.