The Beginning of Knowledge

Pro. 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

Pro. 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

When Solomon first came into the throne of his father David, the kingdom of Israel had come really to the zenith of its glory, of power. It was at that point one of the strongest kingdoms in the world. Blessed of God mightily. And when Solomon became king, God said unto Solomon, "Ask of Me what you will." And Solomon prayed unto the Lord and said, "Lord, I ask You that You would give me wisdom in governing over these Your people." And so the Lord said unto Solomon, "Inasmuch as you did not ask for fame or riches or honor, but you asked for wisdom, I will grant unto you that which you have asked, but I will also give to you that which you did not ask. I will give to you wealth and honor and glory." And so the scripture said that God gave wisdom unto Solomon.

Fifteen-fold Purpose of Proverbs

1. To know wisdom (Pro. 1:2)

2. To know instruction

3. To perceive understanding (point ^d, below)

   
   

d. Discernment and discrimination. Translated understanding (Pro. 1:2; 3:5; 4:1-7; 7:4; 8:14; 9:6, 9:10; 16:16; 23:23; 30:2); wisdom (Pro. 23:4); and knowledge (Pro. 2:3).

4. To receive instruction in wisdom (Pro. 1:3)

5. To receive instruction in justice

6. To receive instruction in judgment (Pro. 1:3)

7. To receive instruction in equity (Pro. 1:3)

8. To give subtlety to the simple (Pro. 1:4)

9. To give young men knowledge

10. To give young men discretion

11. To attract the wise man (Pro. 1:5)

12. To increase learning

13. To help attain to wise counsels

14. To make known the words of the wise in proverbial form (Pro. 1:6)

15. To express dark sayings

To know...

יָדַע

yâda‛

yaw-dah'

A primitive root; to know (properly to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively instruction, designation, punishment, etc.): - acknowledge, acquaintance (-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, [un-] a wares, can [-not], certainly, for a certainty, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be [ig-] norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to, let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have [knowledge], (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X prognosticator, regard, have respect, skillful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have [understanding], X will be, wist, wit, wot.

Wisdom, prudence, shrewdness, skill. Translated "wisdom" 145 times (Pro. 1:2, 1:7; 2:2, 2:6, 2:10; 3:13, 3:19; 4:5, 4:7, 4:11; 5:1; 7:4; 8:1, 8:11-12; 9:10; 10:13, 10:23, 10:31; 11:2; 13:10; 14:6, 14:8, 14:33; 15:33; 16:16; 17:16; 17:24; 18:4; 21:30; 23:23; 24:3, 24:14; 28:26; 29:3, 29:15; 30:3; 31:26; Exo. 28:3; 31:3, 31:6; 35:26, 35:31, 35:35; 36:1-2; Deu. 4:6; 34:9; 1Kgs. 4:29-34; 5:12; 10:4-8, 10:23-24; 11:41; 2Chr. 1:10-12; Psm. 37:30; 51:6; 90:12; 104:24; 111:10; Ecc. 1:13-18; 2:3-26; 7:11-25; 8:1, 8:16; 9:10-18; 10:1, 10:10). It is the predominant word for wisdom in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

wisdom...

חָכְמָה

chokmâh

khok-maw'

From to be wise; wisdom (in a good sense): - skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit.

To understand; comprehend; chasten; discipline.

and instruction;...

מוּסָר

mûsâr

moo-sawr'

From to chastise, literally; properly chastisement; figuratively reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint: - bond, chastening ([-eth]), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.

to perceive...

בִּין

bı̂yn

bene

A primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), that is, (generally) understand: - attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill (-ful), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand (-ing), view, (deal) wise (-ly, man).

the words...

אֵמֶר

'êmer

ay'-mer

From to say; something said: - answer, X appointed unto him, saying, speech, word.

Discernment and discrimination. Translated understanding (Pro. 1:2; 3:5; 4:1-7; 7:4; 8:14; 9:6, 9:10; 16:16; 23:23; 30:2); wisdom (Pro. 23:4); and knowledge (Pro. 2:3).

of understanding;...

בִּינָה

bı̂ynâh

bee-naw'

From H995; understanding: - knowledge, meaning, X perfectly, understanding, wisdom.