Who wrote the book of Proverbs? Who was the author of Proverbs?

The title of this book in the Hebrew Bible is "Mishle," which is derived from the verb "Mashal," to rule, hence short sayings which are given to govern life and conduct. It also has the meaning of "resemblance," that is a parable. Many proverbs are concentrated parables. our English word "proverbs" comes from the word "proverbia" used in the Latin translation. Traditionally the authorship of the whole book is attributed to Solomon, but the book itself does not claim this, nor does it sustain the Solomonic authorship of the entire collection. The major portion of the book is attributed to Solomon and there can be no question that he is the author of it. In First Kings 4:32 we read that the great king uttered 3,000 proverbs in which the wisdom given to him is illustrated. But the book does not contain this number of proverbs.

Chapter 25 begins with the statement: "These are also proverbs which the men of Hezekiah, King of Judah, copied out." This pious king must have had a great interest in compiling and preserving certain portions of the Word of God. According to this statement in Proverbs he must have commissioned certain scribes to add to the previous collection of proverbs by Solomon, other proverbs, which up to that time had remained uncollected. Then in chapter 30 we find the words of Agur the son of Jakeh, and in chapter 31 the words of King Lemuel.

From these facts which appear in the book it is clear that the composition of the entire book of Proverbs cannot be attributed to Solomon. The book begins with "The Proverbs of Solomon the Son of David, King of Israel". In the beginning of chapter 10 we read again: "The Proverbs of Solomon". It seems clear then that in chapters 1-24 we have the proverbs of Solomon; chapter 25 to the end contains also proverbs by the king, except the last two chapters. In all probability the scribes of Hezekiah who copied out the proverbs of chapters 25-29 added the last two chapters. What criticism states, that "the later chapters of this book point to the second or third century before Christ," is only an assertion.

Another feature of this book is, that numerous times a person is addressed as "My son," and the personal pronoun is often used "thou, thee, thy," etc. The sections where we find this are chapters 1-9; 19:20--24:34; and 27-29:27. Who then is the person addressed? Does Solomon address some one or is it Solomon himself who is addressed? Dr. J.W. Thirtle in his Old Testament Problems distinguishes between proverbs written by Solomon and those which were written for him. All those which are addressed to "My son," and in which the personal pronoun is used, it is claimed, are given to Solomon by "wise men or teachers" and that all these sententious sayings were given to young Solomon by these men to fit him for rulership. But this produces other difficulties. The proverbs of Solomon would in this case be very few in comparison with the size of the book, and furthermore we do not know who these wise men or teachers were who instructed the king and wrote such words of wisdom.

With the exception of the last two chapters, the Proverbs are by Solomon, King of Israel. When he succeeded to the throne he was a young man; in his own words and in view of the greatness of the task, he was called upon to shoulder in governing Israel, he said, “I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in” (1 Kings 3:7). We are told that “Solomon loved the Lord”; and God appearing to him in a dream said to the youthful monarch, “Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5).

The Book of Proverbs. The whole of these proverbs were spoken by Solomon, save those contained in the two last chapters. We may regard these wise principles and maxims as part of the three thousand uttered by the illustrious monarch of Israel (1 Kings 4:32), and as the fruit of that wisdom he asked from the Lord at the commencement of his reign (1 Kings 3:12); his name is introduced at the beginning of each of the three divisions of the book (see chapters 1, 10, 25), and which are here selected and arranged by inspiration of God. The compiler was probably one of the prophets living in the days of Hezekiah, if, indeed, that monarch himself did not do so; we know at least that his servants copied out a number of these proverbs (Prov. 25:1). We know nothing of Agur (Prov. 30:1), nor of King Lemuel (Prov. 31:1); their names alone have been handed down to posterity.

We read of Solomon that he spake three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five. He was the writer of the books of the Proverbs, the Ecclesiastes, and the Canticles. His reign is given in 1 Kings 1 - 1 Kings 12; 2 Chr. 1 - 2 Chr. 9.

Spoken by Solomon except chaps. 30, 31; compiler (?)

Proverbs is also poetic, written by King Solomon in his younger years, a book of wise instruction in reference to every department of personal life and conduct. Its great, outstanding truth is simply this: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Its warnings against subtle evils are accompanied by instruction as to the means of avoiding these evils.

The book of Proverbs bears the inspired title: "Proverbs of Solomon, son of David" (chapter 1:1). Solomon is also mentioned as poet in chap. 10:1 and 25:1.

In chapter 22:17 and 24:23 the proverbs (contained in the sections following these verses) are called "words of the wise". Finally chapters 30:1 and 31:1 mention Agur and Lemuel as poets of the proverbs. We do not know anything, however, about their identity.

As David was the greatest poet of Psalms so Solomon was the greatest poet of Proverbs. First Kings 4:29-34 states: "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country (JND: sons of the east), and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spoke three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springs out of the wall: he spoke also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom."

Only around a thousand of Solomon's proverbs are collected in the book of Proverbs and were maintained by divine inspiration and preservation. King Hezekiah's men collected some of Solomon's proverbs only 200 years later (compare Proverbs 25:1). Also Solomon has probably not compiled all proverbs but taken over already known proverbs by the wise (compare chap. 22:17; 24:23). The same implies for the "appendix" in Proverbs 30 and 31 where the name of Agur and Lemuel appear. Solomon has therefore more likely collected the words of these men than just added them later. Solomon reigned around 970 to 931 BC and Hezekiah (in whose time many ancient things came to honour) around 716 to 687 BC. This fixes the beginning and the end of the book's origin.

As already stated in our introduction the book of Proverbs, as a book, was not in existence in the days of Solomon; it was completed through the interest, no doubt inspired interest, of King Hezekiah. That Solomon wrote the proverbs as attributed to him is beyond question.

Proverbs, no less than all Scripture, is an orderly, consistent unfolding of truth, inspired by the Spirit of God, using Solomon, a man of unparalleled wisdom, for a purpose of special importance...

Though the Hebrew title of this book is "Proverbs of Solomon," there are evidently some of these proverbs written by a different hand (See Chapter 30), which may be the reason that this chapter 10 specifically states that these proverbs are those of Solomon (v. 1).