Proverbs 9:3,4 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

Appeal To The Naive And Those Lacking In Understanding (Proverbs 9:3-4).

The emphasis now moves to Wisdom's call to the naive, and to ‘those who are void of understanding', that is, those who have not yet responded to Wisdom..

She cries on the highest places of the city,

“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”

As for him who is void of understanding,

She says to him,

Wisdom's appeal is to the naive and those lacking in understanding. It is made on the highest places of the city, which is probably where her house is (otherwise she could not say, ‘turn in here'), and it is therefore heard by all. And it is an open invitation to all. All who will may come. Her desire is that they might ‘turn in here'.

(It will be noted that the divisions we have made are not fully satisfactory. The writer did not, of course, divide it up like this. But our purpose is to bring out the ongoing of the themes and their structure).

Proverbs 9:3-4

3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,