22
YHWHיְהוָהacquired meקָנָנִיas the beginningרֵאשִׁיתof his way,דַּרְכּוֹbeforeקֶדֶםhis works,מִפְעָלָיוfromמֵof old.אָז
Proverbs 8:22
Study it in the app“YHWH acquired me as the beginning of his way, before his works, from of old.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Proverbs 8:22, word by word
- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- acquired meקָנָkana
acquire
To get something: "get wisdom".
Where else “kana” appears- as the beginningרֵאשִׁיתreshit
beginning
The beginning: "in the beginning".
Where else “reshit” appears- of his wayדַּרְכּdark
manner
The way one lives and acts.
Where else “dark” appears- beforeקֶדֶםkedem
of old
Times long ago, from far back.
Where else “kedem” appears- his worksמִפְעָלָיmifalay
deed, work
A work, a deed, an achievement; what someone has done. A poetic word from the same root as "to do".
Where else “mifalay” appears
Translation note
Wisdom speaks. The Hebrew verb (qanah) means “acquire” or “possess,” and also “create” (Genesis 14:19, 22). The idea of the passage (vv. 22-31) is that wisdom was with YHWH before everything that was created.
The context
21to cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and their treasuries I will fill.
22 · This verse (above)
23From eternity I was established, from the beginning, from the origins of the earth.