Proverbs - Types of Proverbs (notes)

Proverbs - Types of Proverbs

There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge

• Knowledge is taking in the Word of God wisdom is putting out the Word of God.
• Knowledge is the accumulation of facts, wisdom is the application of those facts.

According To Solomon

Knowledge comes from reverence of the Lord. Knowledge and wisdom both begin from the reverence of the Word of God.

If you want to be knowledgeable, study God’s Word. If you want to be wise apply God’s Word.

Our Job Is To pass on to our children and their children the power of knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom is built upon wisdom, if we will be diligent to carefully instruct our children in the knowledge and wisdom which was passed down to us from our fathers, God can take that foundation and build upon it. Our offspring can become wiser than we ever were.

Wisdom Is As Infinite as God Himself. As we increase in it, it increases in us. It can be passed from age to age, growing and expanding with each generation.

There Are Six Basic types of Proverbs:

1. Synonymous
2. Antithetical
3. Synthetic
4. Integral
5. Parabolic
6. Comparative

The Meaning

Synonymous is a proverb in which both lines say essentially the same thing but expressed in a slightly different way.

(Prov. 11:15)

Antithetical means that a thought is presented in the first line, with the negative of that thought expressed in the second line.

(Prov. 14:30)

Synthetic is when both lines seem to express totally different thoughts, even opposite thoughts, yet which have one common theme.

(Prov. 10:18)

Integral is when the second line completes the thought of the first line.

(Prov. 13:14)

Parabolic is when the first line illustrates the second. The second line is the teaching the first one is the analogy.

(Prov. 11:22)

Comparative is when a proverb compares one thing with another to illustrate a common trait.

(Prov. 27:15)

There is wisdom In knowing the different types of proverbs

Let’s learn to apply God’s wisdom to our daily lives and we will experience the blessing of the Lord in every aspect of our lives.

Read Proverbs

• Try to understand what type of Proverb you are studying.
• Apply the principle to your life.
• Write down what you learn in a journal.

Wisdom Means

• Living & thinking according to God’s truth, ways & design!
• To approach life from God’s point of view, believing that everything God says is right & true & the only wisdom by which to live.

The Fear of the Lord

A reverent awe of God’s power, majesty and holiness produces in us a holy fear of transgressing His revealed will; such reverence is essential to gaining a heart of wisdom. Wisdom starts by having a holy, reverent fear of God, so before we can start this New Year and our pursuit of wisdom we must fear God. This is the start of wisdom.