Proverbs 9:10

With the Hebrew beneath

Proverbs 9:10, word by word

The startתְּחִלַּתtechilat

beginning

Beginning, start; "at first".

Where else “techilat” appears

of wisdomחָכְמָהchachma

wisdom

Knowing how to live well; it begins with revering YHWH.

Where else “chachma” appears

is the fearיִרְאַתyirat

fear

Fear. "The fear of God" is deep reverence that leads one to obey him and avoid evil.

Where else “yirat” appears

of 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

the knowledgeדַעַתdaat

knowledge

What one has learned; or a close bond with God.

Where else “daat” appears

of the Holy Oneקְדֹשִׁיםkedoshim

Holy One

God, the one wholly set apart and pure, God of Israel.

Where else “kedoshim” appears

is understandingבִּינָהbina

understanding

Understanding: the ability to comprehend and to tell one thing from another.

Where else “bina” appears

Translation note

“The Holy One”: in Hebrew it is plural (“the holy ones”); because of the parallel with “YHWH” in the first line it can be understood as a name of God, as in 30:3.

The context