He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
עַד־לֹ֣א עָ֭שָׂה אֶ֣רֶץ וְחוּצ֑וֹת וְ֝רֹ֗אשׁ עָפְר֥וֹת תֵּבֵֽל׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Do not bring forth another Creator, for an empty land serves no purpose. This is the reason He created the inhabited places, so that by understanding the boundaries and limits, one might recognize that this is the handiwork of God, without uncertainty about what exists in between. The endpoints are concealed and represent divine mysteries, while the populated areas symbolize vibrant souls, and the desolate places reflect divine ideas that are beyond human expression.
The wise person heeds the call of wisdom herself, who proclaims to all from elevated and bustling places. Aware that her hands are filled with truth and significance, she reveals her divine nature and works as the incarnate Wisdom, bestowing upon her followers strength, riches, and success. She stands as a co-creator alongside God the Creator, contributing to the formation of the world. Now, she invites everyone to learn from her teachings, pledging to bring them wisdom and joy. The Lord established me as the beginning of His ways, in His works.
The Hebrew term used here is 'kanani,' meaning 'acquired,' which suggests that the more accurate interpretation of the Greek term εκτισε is actually 'acquired,' as supported by early church fathers like Athanasius and Eusebius during their disputes with the Arians, who used the term εκτησατο, indicating possession, mirroring the translation of Aquila and similarly aligned texts such as the Vulgate.
It concerns the Heavenly Kingdom, which encompasses the world. Certain regions (nations) are unsuitable for human dwelling and thus remain uninhabited or lack permanent residents, while others are occupied fully. Both types were brought into existence by the Lord, and consequently, each, by their nature, holds no resemblance to the Divine, hypostatic Wisdom. This Wisdom, as expressed in the previous verse, revealed that the Lord begets it, meaning it originates from God not through creation but as a premature emergence from His essence.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS