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Lady Wisdom Calls Out

Proverbs 8:4-5 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
⁴“To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the sons of men.
⁵O simple ones, learn shrewdness;
O fools, an understanding heart.^[1]

To you, O men, I call: Men (Heb. ishim) in the plural form in the Hebrew Old Testament is quite rare; it is a reference to all people.

And my cry is to the sons of men: Here cry (Heb. qoli) is being addressed to everyone as was stated above, men is a reference to all people.

O simple ones, learn shrewdness: The rendering of the masculine plural adjective simple ones (petayim) is a reference to those who are immature and lack intelligence, experience, and understanding (1:4; 1:22), who are easily deceived or persuaded. However, as the second half of this line makes clear they have the ability to learn (binu), namely, hear, understand or perceive information, so as to change this condition. Here Shrewdness; prudence; discernment: (Heb. ormah) This is one who has or shows good powers of judgment. This one is cautious as he is careful to avoid potential problems or dangers, as he desires to avoid potential problems.

O fools, an understanding heart: An understanding heart is speaking of paying attention. The simple ones, the fools should pay attention to lady wisdom so as to acquire shrewdness and an understanding heart. The Hebrew word for a fool (kesilim) is one who chooses his own path as opposed to following God’s path but is not a rebellion at this point, for we can see the plea for the fools to learn shrewdness, to acquire an understanding heart.

The call of wisdom is for all people, male and female alike. The call is to the simpleminded and fools, to be shrewd and acquire an understanding heart (pay attention). God’s Word is accessible to all, and Christianity has made intelligence, the experience of others, and understanding accessible to all, by way of study tools that help the Bible student dig deeper into the Word of God.

[1] I.e. pay attention