Proverbs 8:5 - Exposition

O ye simple, understand wisdom. "The simple," those not yet perverted, but easily influenced for good or evil. See on Proverbs 1:4 , where also is explained the word ormah , used here for "wisdom;" equivalent to calliditas in a good sense, or πανουργία , as sometimes employed in the Septuagint; so here: νοήσατε ἄκακοι πανουργίαν , "subtlety." Ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. For "fools" ( khesilim ) , the intellectually heavy and dull, see on Proverbs 1:22 . The heart is considered the seat of the mind or understanding (comp. Proverbs 15:32 ; Proverbs 17:16 , etc.). Septuagint, "Ye that are untaught, take in heart ( ἔνθεσθε καρδίαν )." The call thus addressed to various classes of parsons is like the section in 1 John 2:1-29 , "I write unto you. little children," etc.