“To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
(Proverbs 1:2–7, NKJV)
Looking at Hebrew is like thinking backwards. The language is written right to left which means I have to translate right to left then read left to right. This is useful though in slowing down the comprehension of what is actually being said. To often we read without considering.
The idea of “to know” carries a depth of personal understanding with it. I can know what an incision is, but until one is cut into my body, or I cut one into another’s body, I don’t truly “know” about incisions. In medical and nursing terms this is a practical skill, that is knowledge acquired though practical experience.
The English definition for the word know:
From www.merriam-webster.com
“a (1) : to perceive directly : have direct cognition of (2) : to have understanding of <importance of knowing oneself> (3) : to recognize the nature of : discern b (1) : to recognize as being the same as something previously known (2) : to be acquainted or familiar with (3) : to have experience of”
Hebrew speaks to the aspect of knowing as reflected in the eternal substantiation of the attribute the context is speaking of. In this case wisdom, instruction, the perception of the words of understanding, the reception of the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity.
This is not to say the concept of “to know” does not have temporal significance. It only means the temporal significance is not where we should stop when pondering and considering the attainment of knowledge.
Remember the Proverbs are attributed to King Solomon as are the books of Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. But they are also the Word of God.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ”
(2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV)
The idea here in the beginning of our study is “to know” as God would have us know with regard to the elements which follow. As we unpack the individual words and look at the eternal meaning within the context, we will gain a better and deeper understanding of what God wants us to see and understand with regard to this truth!
