The Book of Wisdom

[starrs0]

Why in several places in the Book of Wisom is Wisdom refered to as “she”?

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

starrs0:

Why in several places in the Book of Wisom is Wisdom refered to as “she”?

Perhaps because Sophia - the Greek word translated “wisdom” - is a feminine noun. And Wisdom is feminine in the (Hebrew) Book of Proverbs.​

 

[starrs0]

Ok that makes sense but why is Wisdom spoken of in the feminine?

 

[dancus]

starss0:Seems to me I saw this same thread several months ago. You seem to have a problem with females in the Bible or perhaps females in general. I’d strongly advise you to avoid Sirach. Dan

 

[starrs0]

Dancus: Nothing could be further from the truth I’m just curious as to why Wisdom is given Anthropromorphic features spoken of as if it where a human I would still ask the question if Wisdom were reffered to as “he”. I’m very inquisitive in matters of theology and I wanted to know if theres some kind of profound reason for Wisdom being spoken of as a person be it male or female.

 

[RyanL]

You may want to pick up (then) Cardinal Ratzinger’s small book “Daughter of Zion”. He discusses this item directly. This should help quite a bit…
RyanL

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

starrs0:

Ok that makes sense but why is Wisdom spoken of in the feminine?

Because (I suppose) she is personified in accordance with the grammatical gender of the Hebrew noun for wisdom - hokmah.​

Wisdom is a sort of counterpart to God - a personified attribute, or hypostasis who carries out His works. Quite why, is not entirely clear - perhaps to express the activity of God in the world, without endangering His uniqueness as the only God.

Hypostasisation is a fairly common feature of ancient religion - Hokmah-Sophia-Wisdom is a Jewish example of the process.

katapi.org.uk/OTIntro/WisdomLit.htm - old, but still useful

thepastoralreview.org/cgi-bin/archive_db.cgi?priestsppl-00022

Hope that helps ##

 

[Psalm45_9]

It’s funny, ships are referred as “she” even if they have masculine names.