Why is Wisdom a Woman? And Where does Christ fit in?

In Proverbs, King Solomon refers to Wisdom as a woman. But why? Was wisdom actually a created person , or was it some other being? The short answer to this is no. But there was a purpose to Solomon calling wisdom a woman and who/what wisdom represented for the future. I recently had a wonderful friend bring this thought up to me and once I started to read more into it, I saw just how beautiful this scripture was.

We see metaphors and pictures throughout all of Proverbs to help better understand the point Solomon was trying to get across. Solomon wrote a good bit of Proverbs, he was the wisest King to ever rule. He prayed for wisdom and God granted it to him. But Solomon didn’t stay content with the wisdom God provided him and began to seek out worldly things and lost sight of God and his plan. In proverbs Solomon is sharing some of his wisdom from his mistakes to the “sons”. Solomon saw that if you seek the wisdom of the world you gain nothing but if you seek the wisdom of God you gain everything. That is the wisdom Solomon talks about throughout Proverbs.

Proverbs 1: 1-7 says ” 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgement, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Solomon wanted young men to seek wisdom with God at the center, and understanding how the wisdom that they seek will affect them for life. Because of this, Solomon uses wisdom as an example of seeking a wife (especially in Ch. 9). Thus calling wisdom a woman…. Only the Lord can give us wisdom if we seek it; just like only the Lord will provide us with our significant other, that we were meant to have according to his will, if we seek his wisdom to find them.

Our path to seeking wisdom in the Lord, and understanding, should be a passionate en devour. As Proverbs 2:10-11 ” 10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:” 3: 13-17 ” 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better then the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” I don’t know about you but if I were a man searching for a wife this sounds exactly what I would look for. Solomon is talking to men who are in their prime years of finding a wife, its in the forefront of their mind, and he knew that putting woman as metaphor for wisdom would help them understand how important it is to seek after the wisdom of God just as it is to seek after a good wife.

Now I want to point out that just because this is directed toward “sons” doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply to all of us in our Christian walk. As wife’s we should seek out what wisdom displays, which we read in Proverbs 31:10-31 as it describes a Virtuous Woman. The Proverbs 31 woman is almost impossible to be, but it’s who we should strive to be. Just like we are supposed to strive to be more like Jesus….

Speaking of Jesus…. If you read further through Proverbs, especially in Proverbs 8, there are many descriptions of wisdom that point directly toward Jesus. A few examples: “20 I lead the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment;” “27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there…” ” 34 Blessed is the man that hearth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.” Don’t these verses sound a lot like ones we read in the new testament from Jesus? “21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John1:1, Jesus was the Word and he was there in Genesis. John 12: 26 ” 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

Solomon wanted the sons to seek wisdom as diligently as they would a good wife. It was important because it determined the course of their whole life. Are they going to have a strong walk with God and understand his will? Are they going to have a wife of virtue and grace? Or, are they going to live a life of sin and corruption? Are they going to marry the lazy harlot ?…He was trying to take his wisdom to help others seek and serve the Lord. Wisdom is beautiful, graceful, and virtuous. She will lead a life filled with the Lord’s treasures and bless you when you seek her. Wisdom is more precious then the most precious of gems!

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 says “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” So if Jesus is made unto us wisdom, should we not be seeking after him as diligently as Solomon says to seek after wisdom? Proverbs description of wisdom is a shadow of exactly who Christ is. We should be seeking after him as if he were the love of our life, the fairy tale love we don’t want to live without. Because that is exactly what he is, except hes the real thing, there is no fairy tale!

Solomon talked about wisdom as a woman to paint a beautiful picture of what we should seek after. She is every man’s dream. And the wisdom of God and the teaching of Christ should be what we seek after, as if we were totally love sick. Side note: I think that every man and woman should read Proverbs, and strive to have a marriage like that. You should seek to be what is described in the relationship between man and wisdom, as well as other parts of Proverbs where it talks about being a virtuous woman (Proverbs 31).

I pray that this helps you better understand why Wisdom is referred to as woman, at least from my own understanding and counsel. But I am no biblical scholar, so if you have any thoughts or knowledge please share, I would love to hear from you. Also if you have any prayer requests, please comment and I will be happy to keep you in my prayers!

Thank you and God Bless,

Covering Christian Mom