Wisdom literature was a common form of writing in the ancient world – everybody was keen on searching out the ‘right’ way to live, and documenting their findings for everybody else to follow. They were very much focused on teaching how to make correct choices.

The difference between other literature in the ancient world and that found in the Scriptures is the idea that wise choices are godly choices – or more precisely, godly choices are the only wise choices. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”¹. Only when wisdom is subordinated to obedience to God does it achieve its proper ends.

Wisdom therefore has nothing to do with IQ. According to James, God gives wisdom to all those who ask for it².

Reading wisdom literature

There are 3 main types of wisdom literature in the Bible:

• Proverbial: These were sayings to be memorised, focused on practical attitudes and behaviour. The book of Proverbs is the chief example.
• Speculative: This type of wisdom literature involves either a monologue (e.g. Ecclesiastes) or a dialogue (e.g. Job) that explores the nature of wisdom.
• Lyric: Lyric wisdom is the most abstract of the wisdom literature types. The main biblical example is the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon), which is a love song looking at the “wise choice” of marital and sexual fidelity.

Here are some guidelines for approaching wisdom literature:

• Read in context. For example, Ecclesiastes 3:2 contains the famous line “a time to be born and a time to die.” By reading the surrounding verses, we understand this to be a comment on the fleeting and transitory nature of life. It is not a comment on God setting a particular time for birth and death.
• Follow the argument. This is closely related to the previous point – where there is an argument being presented, you need to keep on top of who is saying what, and what their argument is based on. For example, if you read “All their days the wicked suffer torment, the ruthless through all the years stored up for them,”³ you might be inclined to think that it is a teaching that wicked people cannot be truly happy. However by reading more carefully we find that Job vigorously refutes this view, and that God vindicates him for doing so.
• Understand the terms. For example, the verse “Stay away from the foolish, for you will not find wisdom on their lips,”⁴ is not a warning against people with intellectual disabilities but those who live selfish and indulgent lives.

To aid in memorability, wisdom literature often employs the same poetic techniques found in psalms. See the section on “How to read a psalm” for more detail.

Applying wisdom literature

Application of wisdom literature is mostly a matter of common sense. Some things to remember when doing so:

• Proverbs often employ parables and thus may point beyond themselves.
• Proverbs are usually practical, rather than theoretically theological.
• Proverbs are written to be memorable, rather than precise. Consider our proverb “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Then have a look at Prov 21:22, 15:19, 31:10-31 etc.
• Proverbs are not intended to support selfish behaviour, although reading them in isolation might cause you to think they do.
• They may need to be ‘translated’ into modern equivalents. Consider Prov 22:11, 25:24 etc.
• They are not guarantees from God, but poetic guidelines for good behaviour. See Prov 29:12, 15:25.
• They may use exaggeration or literary devices to convey a point.
• They give good advice, but are not intended to be exhaustive.

As for all Scripture, your best safety guard is to interpret in the light of Scripture i.e. make sure that whatever application you are taking away lines up with the rest of the Bible.

Further reading

• Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, “Wisdom: Then and Now” in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Third Edition, Zondervan, 2003) pp. 225-248

Endnotes

1. Prov 9:10
2. Jas 1:5
3. Job 15:20
4. Prov 14:7