fear fear of the Lord The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.
Context Summary
Proverbs 9:1-18 - Two Contrasted Invitations
There is an age-long competition between Wisdom and Folly, Virtue and Vice. The palace of Wisdom is very attractive-well built and well furnished. It is reared upon seven well-hewn marble pillars, in a quadrangular form, the entrance being left wide-open. An eternal mansion, it is stable and beautiful. Great preparations are made for the feast, which is open to all-in striking contrast to the private supper to which Vice allures the unwary youth. The beautiful owner also sends forth her maidens into the public thoroughfares to give free invitations to all who will accept them. See Matthew 22:1, etc.
Only to the simple or child-hearted, and not to the scorner, is the invitation addressed. Wisdom lets the scorner pass, because a word to him would only recoil on herself, and would add to his wickedness. To scoff at things which are holy and scorn the divine power is to risk the sin that is never forgiven. Such is the man who enters the feast without the wedding garment. [source]
Chapter Summary: Proverbs 9
1The discipline 4and the doctrine of wisdom 13The custom 16and error of folly
What do the individual words in Proverbs 9:10 mean?
[is] the beginningof wisdomthe fearof Yahwehand the knowledgeof the Holy one[is] understanding