Q
Quaere_Verum
Guest
Why is wisdom sometimes referred to in the feminine sense and other times referred to with male pronouns?
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M
Mannyfit75
Guest
Do you have a Scripture Chapter and verse to reference or commentary?
I
IrishAm
Guest
Well, yesterday’s first reading (Wis 7:22b–8:1), one of my favorites that I keep printed in my pile of inspiration, speaks of the feminine
“In Wisdom is a spirit
intelligent, holy, unique,
Manifold, subtle, agile,
clear, unstained, certain,
Not baneful, loving the good, keen,
unhampered, beneficent, kindly,
Firm, secure, tranquil,
all-powerful, all-seeing,
And pervading all spirits,
though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.
For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion,
and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.
For she is an aura of the might of God
and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nought that is sullied enters into her.
For she is the refulgence of eternal light,
the spotless mirror of the power of God,
the image of his goodness.
And she, who is one, can do all things,
and renews everything while herself perduring;
And passing into holy souls from age to age,
she produces friends of God and prophets.
For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.
For she is fairer than the sun
and surpasses every constellation of the stars.
Compared to light, she takes precedence;
for that, indeed, night supplants,
but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom.
Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily
and governs all things well.”
Doesn’t that just grab your heart and make you want to call the Holy Spirit to you?
“In Wisdom is a spirit
intelligent, holy, unique,
Manifold, subtle, agile,
clear, unstained, certain,
Not baneful, loving the good, keen,
unhampered, beneficent, kindly,
Firm, secure, tranquil,
all-powerful, all-seeing,
And pervading all spirits,
though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.
For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion,
and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.
For she is an aura of the might of God
and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nought that is sullied enters into her.
For she is the refulgence of eternal light,
the spotless mirror of the power of God,
the image of his goodness.
And she, who is one, can do all things,
and renews everything while herself perduring;
And passing into holy souls from age to age,
she produces friends of God and prophets.
For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.
For she is fairer than the sun
and surpasses every constellation of the stars.
Compared to light, she takes precedence;
for that, indeed, night supplants,
but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom.
Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily
and governs all things well.”
Doesn’t that just grab your heart and make you want to call the Holy Spirit to you?
P
Peregrino
Guest
I know some women who would quickly say that wisdom is feminine for a reason…!
R
RachelsAlumni
Guest
At the risk of divulging my genderI know some women who would quickly say that wisdom is feminine for a reason…!
I’ll concur!In both the Old and New Testaments, Wisdom is often personified in the feminine gender:
“Say that Wisdom is thy sister” (Proverbs 7:4)
“Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars” (Proverbs 9:1)
“Wisdom is known by her children” (Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:35)
The Old Testament word for “wisdom” is chokmah which has the feminine ending.
D
dacoobob
Guest
Who exactly does the Church teach that Wisdom is? He/She/It is certainly described as having many Divine qualities. I’ve seen people (fellow protestants) argue that Wisdom = Jesus (Logos); but then the “she” would seem really out of place. The Holy Spirit, an angel, or a purely figurative bunch of poetry all seem like more likely candidates to me. Is there any dogma/teaching on this?
I
IrishAm
Guest
Wisdom (with a capital “W”) is typically aligned with either the Holy Spirit, or, in some allegorical cases, a Gift of the Holy Spirit.
R
Ron_Conte
Guest
Wisdom is called ‘she’ for a number of reasons.
- the Virgin Mary is, figuratively, like wisdom personified.
- God has a relationship to Creation as male is related to female within humanity. God structured humanity in this was to be an image of God/Creation. All of Creation displays the wisdom of God.
- the Church is the bride of Christ, and so wisdom, which permeates and guides the Church, is feminine.
D
DaveBj
Guest
- Grammatically, both the Greek “sophia” and the Hebrew “khokhma” are feminine words. It could be that some of the OT writers took that fact and ran with it in a very nice anthropomorphism, seeing “Wisdom” as a wise mother-figure.
Q
Quaere_Verum
Guest
St. Louis de Montfort explains that Divine Wisdom (notice the captial) refers to the Incarnate Wisdom or Jesus. This is as opposed to “wisdom” which is referenced as the feminine and refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit. His Love of Eternal Wisdom is my favorite of his writings because it explains in detail how we need to desire Divine Wisdom. He also interprets the biblical vs. “ask & you shall receive…” as referring to seeking Jesus and knowledge of Jesus.
D
Daniel_Marsh
Guest
Proverbs 8
1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
It very well could be that Wisdom is a feminine attribute of God because God made mankind in his image, both male and female.
So, what other attributes of God that could be idenitified as being either mascine or feminine?
1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
It very well could be that Wisdom is a feminine attribute of God because God made mankind in his image, both male and female.
So, what other attributes of God that could be idenitified as being either mascine or feminine?
M
Milliardo
Guest
Wisdom, at least in Greek, is feminine (sophia), thus it is often used in the feminine sense. I am not sure if in Hebrew it is also in the feminine gender.
N
Nita
Guest
Do you have any scriptural passages where wisdom is referred to with male pronouns?
D
drafdog
Guest
Lady Wisdom is the Holy Spirit.
Matthew
Matthew
R
rwoehmke
Guest
And then there are more than one knowlegable Catholic woman who are convinced that Wisdom is the Holy Spirit and represents the feminine side of the God Head. Kind of like the jolt one gets from a slug of white lightening!
D
dacoobob
Guest
So there’s nothing in the CCC, etc. about this (yet)?
V
Valke2
Guest
The feminie side of God has traditionallybeen found in the attirbute of Wisdom (Shekinah in our Hebrew texts). In Christainity, she shows up as Sophia in the Book of Wisdom.
“Sophia (Wisdom) I loved;
I sought her out in my youth,
I fell in love with her beauty,
and I longed to make her my bride…
Once you have grasped her, never let her go.
In the end, she will trnasform herself into pure joy.”
The promise is that pure joy comes to us through Wisdom. Sophia goes about in search of those who are worthy of her. With every step she comes to guide them; in every thought she comes to meet them.
In the book of Proverbs:
God created me when his purpose first unfolded,
before the oldest of his works.
From everlasting I was firmly set,
from the beginning, before earth came into being.
The deep was not, when I was born,
there were no springs to gush with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills, I came to birth;
before he made the earth, the countryside
or the first grains of the worlds dust.
When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,
when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep,
when he thickened the cluds above,
when he assigned the sea it boundaries
– and the waters will not invade the shore –
when he laid down the foundations of the earth,
I was by his side, a master craftsman,
delighting him day after day
ever at play in his presence,
at play everywhere in the world,
delighting to be with the sons and daughters of the humand race.
V
Valke2
Guest
In Kabbalah, the Divine Mother is referred to as Binah. SHe allows the seven lower sefirots (attributes of the Divine) to exist. It is from her that they flow. Wisdom lies in the depths of Binah. It cannot be grasped consciously, only absorbed. No creature can contemplate the wonderous paths of Wisdom except one who sucks from It. This is meditation through sucking, not through knowing. (Kabbalist quoted in the book “One River, Many Wells”).
There are many instances of Paul calling Jesus “Sophia”. ANd John’s gospel grows out of the metaphor of Sophia setting up her tent in Israel, and Jesus being that Sophia. ALthough he calls her “Word”.
Matthew Fox points out that in Sirach we read:
The Creator of all things instructed me…
“Pitch your tent in Jacob,
make Israel your inheritence.”
In John, one reads:
The WOrd was made flesh,
and pitched his tent among us.
There are many instances of Paul calling Jesus “Sophia”. ANd John’s gospel grows out of the metaphor of Sophia setting up her tent in Israel, and Jesus being that Sophia. ALthough he calls her “Word”.
Matthew Fox points out that in Sirach we read:
The Creator of all things instructed me…
“Pitch your tent in Jacob,
make Israel your inheritence.”
In John, one reads:
The WOrd was made flesh,
and pitched his tent among us.
V
Valke2
Guest
Within Sufism there were many women who were spiritual guides and teachers. Ibn Al-Arabi, 13th century mystic:
"One obtains the highest theophanic vision in contemplating the Image of the Feminine eing, because it is the Image of the Creative Feminine that contemplation can apprehend the highest manifestation of God, namely creative divinity…
The spirituality of our Islamic mystics is led to the apparation of Eternal Woman as an Image of the Godhead because in her it contemplates the secret of the compassionate GOd, whose creative act is a liberation of beings. This is called recollection of Sophia in which the Feminine is not opposed to the Masculine but encompasses and combines it."
Heavy.
"One obtains the highest theophanic vision in contemplating the Image of the Feminine eing, because it is the Image of the Creative Feminine that contemplation can apprehend the highest manifestation of God, namely creative divinity…
The spirituality of our Islamic mystics is led to the apparation of Eternal Woman as an Image of the Godhead because in her it contemplates the secret of the compassionate GOd, whose creative act is a liberation of beings. This is called recollection of Sophia in which the Feminine is not opposed to the Masculine but encompasses and combines it."
Heavy.
V
Valke2
Guest
Woman is a beam of the divine LIght.
She is not the being whom sensual desire takes as its object.
She is Creator, it should be said.
She is not creature.
-Rumi
Muhammed:
"All people are equal, as equal as the teeth of a comb. THere is no claim of merit of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a white over a black person, or of a male over a female. He who honors women is honorable, he who insults them is lowly and mean. He who has a daughter and does not insult her and does not preferhis sons over her, will be ushered by GOd into paradise.
She is not the being whom sensual desire takes as its object.
She is Creator, it should be said.
She is not creature.
-Rumi
Muhammed:
"All people are equal, as equal as the teeth of a comb. THere is no claim of merit of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a white over a black person, or of a male over a female. He who honors women is honorable, he who insults them is lowly and mean. He who has a daughter and does not insult her and does not preferhis sons over her, will be ushered by GOd into paradise.
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