The Church Fathers on this verse

Proverbs 8:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.

Douay-Rheims

כִּֽי־אֱ֭מֶת יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חִכִּ֑י וְתוֹעֲבַ֖ת שְׂפָתַ֣י רֶֽשַׁע׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

5 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Clement of Alexandria

2nd centuryChurch Father

To highlight beneficial insights, the educator, speaking through Solomon, proclaims, "To you, O men, I call, and my voice is directed to the sons of men! Listen, for I will share significant truths” (Proverbs 8:4, 6). The counsel offered here is valuable, as its aim is either to inspire action or to deter from wrongdoing. This guidance can be categorized into three types.

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First, it draws from historical examples, such as the repercussions faced by the Israelites after their idolatry with the golden calf and the consequences of their unfaithfulness. Secondly, it reflects on observable present realities, encompassing tangible experiences. This is illustrated by the inquiry posed to the Lord, "Are You the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" To which He replies, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me" (Matthew 11:3-6).

The third form of counsel is based on prophetic warnings regarding future events, as God forewarns of impending judgment. Consequently, it is stated that those who indulge in sin will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:13). Thus, it becomes clear that God employs various educational methods to draw individuals toward salvation.

Hilarius of Poitiers

4th centuryChurch Father

At the outset, wisdom earnestly invites everyone, encouraging the naive to perceive the profound and the uninformed to focus their hearts, enabling the attentive and industrious individual to appreciate the nobility found in both structured and varied expressions. Therefore, it instructs us to participate in everything, to comprehend all matters, to value all experiences, and to achieve all things in accordance with its guidance and principles.

Fulgentius of Ruspe

6th centuryChurch Father

The reality is ready to be declared by my voice, while falsehoods are abhorrent to my speech (Proverbs 8:7; LXX). Thus, those who have not experienced salvation through baptism are those who have not embraced the truth of faith within their hearts and spoken it with their mouths. Even though they may have outwardly manifested grace through the act of baptism, they rejected the true essence of grace and, as a result, did not attain either life or salvation.

Ireneus (Orda)

19th centuryCommentator

The wise individual recognizes the call of wisdom itself. She proclaims her message to humanity from elevated and bustling locations, and as she reveals that her hands are laden with truth and significance, she exemplifies her divine attributes and deeds as the incarnate Wisdom. She bestows authority, abundance, and welfare upon her adherents; she collaborates with God, the Creator, in bringing forth creation and shares in the formation of the universe. Now, she extends an invitation to all to heed her teachings, assuring them that she will grant them wisdom and joy. The Lord established me as the beginning of His paths, in His works.

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The original Hebrew text uses ‘kanani,’ which translates to ‘acquired,’ indicating that instead of the Greek term “created,” it is more accurately understood as “acquired,” as affirmed by the early church fathers during their discussions with the Arians, and this is reflected in translations like that of Aquila and in the Vulgate.

Vissarion (Nechaev)

19th centuryCommentator

The truth found in Divine Wisdom is so precious that She not only longs to proclaim it through Her servants for the enlightenment of humanity, but She also despises anything that opposes the truth. To Her, falsehoods are detestable, regardless of the source from which they arise.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.