Time after Pentecost · The Holy Trinity (First Sunday after Pentecost) · Year C

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Wisdom at Play Before God

June 11, 2028

A Russian icon of a type peculiar to Novgorod: Wisdom as a winged, fiery-faced figure on a throne, with Christ above and Mary and the Baptist either side.Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars. She has set her table. She calls from the highest places in the town, You that are simple, turn in here! Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.Unknown Russian icon painterUnnamed, as Russian icon painters generally were; the work belongs to a workshop tradition rather than an individual.Vologda State Museum-Reserve, VologdaA northern Russian museum in a bishop's walled residence, with a large collection of icons.Vologda State Museum-Reserve, Vologda

LSB Three-Year Lectionary

GospelJohn 8:48-59Jn 8:48-59

EpistleActs 2:14a, 22-36

Old TestamentProv. 8:1-4, 22-31Prv 8:1-4, 22-31

PsalterPs. 8Ps 8

Overview & Insights

"I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world." (Proverbs 8:30-31)

Wisdom is personified as God's companion present at creation, calling out publicly for all to heed her. The church has long read this poem alongside John's Word made flesh, which is why it appears on Trinity Sunday.

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Take it further: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Commentary

Proverbs 8 Commentary: In Praise of WisdomPrv 8 Commentary: In Praise of Wis Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's commentary on Wisdom's call and her place beside God at creation.

Proverbs 8:1 CommentariesPrv 8:1 Commentaries BibleHub

A single page collecting several classic commentaries on the wisdom poem.

Proverbs 8 (Barnes' Notes)Prv 8 (Barnes' Notes) StudyLight

Albert Barnes' verse-by-verse notes on Wisdom's speech.

Commentary on Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31Commentary on Prv 8:1-4, 22-31 Working Preacher

Reads Wisdom as mediating God's presence, a theme long tied to Trinity Sunday.

Proverbs 8 CommentaryPrv 8 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Preaching-focused reflection on Wisdom's accessibility, written for this Trinity Sunday.

Background & Word Study

Proverbs 8:22-31, Woman Wisdom and CreationPrv 8:22-31, Woman Wis and Creation Enter the Bible

Luther Seminary background on Wisdom personified as God's companion at creation.

Proverbs 8:1 InterlinearPrv 8:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew interlinear text for checking the poem's key vocabulary.

Proverbs 8Prv 8 Sefaria

The Hebrew text with classic Jewish commentators on Wisdom's speech.

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