The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Proverbs 8:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:

Douay-Rheims

בְּאַמְּצ֣וֹ שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל בַּ֝עֲז֗וֹז עִינ֥וֹת תְּהוֹם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

4 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

Recognize that the Father was present with Him, and He with the Father. Regarding the time of creation, Wisdom states: "When He made the heavens, I was with Him, and when He made the springs of waters." The Old Testament demonstrates that the Son should be revered just as the Father is revered as the Creator of all things. The creations of the Son exist through Him, which implies that when God is referred to in truth, it should be understood that the Son is also included in that reference. Similarly, the Spirit is recognized as part of this divine calling, for God is acknowledged in the Spirit. Thus, the Father is addressed alongside the Son and the Spirit, affirming the unity of the Trinity.

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The beauty of God's creation is evident throughout the world He fashioned beautifully; it is also discernible in specific creations. For instance, when God called forth light and distinguished day from night, as noted in Genesis 1:3, and when He separated land from water, arranging the sun, moon, and stars to illuminate the earth, He commended each aspect individually. Consequently, the splendor present in every singular creation reflects the glory of the universe as a whole, as Wisdom articulates: "I was that which He praised when He rejoiced in having made the universe" (Proverbs 8:30-31). Correspondingly, while each part of the human body is beautiful, the true pleasure lies in the slender unity of all the members, as each part occupies its place and harmonizes perfectly with the others.

Prudentius

5th centuryChurch Father

This Wisdom, revealed, created the heavens, the earth, the day, and everything within it through the authority of the Word, for this is God.

Ireneus (Orda)

19th centuryCommentator

The wise individual heeds the call of wisdom itself. She cries out to humanity from elevated and bustling places and, recognizing that her hands are filled with truth and significance, illustrates her divine characteristics and actions as the embodiment of Wisdom. She grants her followers strength, wealth, and prosperity; she is a co-creator alongside God, the Creator, and collaborates in the formation of the world. Now, she beckons everyone to listen to her teachings, assuring them that they will gain wisdom and joy. The Lord established me as the beginning of His ways, in His works.

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The original Hebrew text uses the term ‘kanani’ meaning ‘acquired,’ thus it is more accurate to interpret the Greek term εκτίσε as ‘possessed,’ as affirmed by early church fathers like Athanasius and Eusebius in their disputes with the Arians, consistent with translations by Aquila and others, and also found in the Vulgate in Psalm 138:13.

Vissarion (Nechaev)

19th centuryCommentator

The utmost wisdom was needed to create an earth suitable for human habitation and the thriving of life. To achieve this, it was essential to fortify the clouds above, enclosing the waters within them to prevent their uncontrolled release, as had occurred during the Great Flood due to God's wrath, which threatened to inundate the earth. A similar measure was required for the earth's waters found in the springs of the heavens and in the seas. The Lord securely set the springs of the celestial realms, allowing the waters to flow across the earth’s surface, providing nourishment to the land beneath the expanse of the sky. These waters are firmly contained, as if secured behind strong gates, preventing the occurrence of catastrophic floods.