אֲֽנִי־֭חָכְמָה שָׁכַ֣נְתִּי עָרְמָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת מְזִמֹּ֣ות אֶמְצָֽא׃
(Proverbs 8:12)
The Voice of Wisdom in the First Person
This proverb is unique in that חָכְמָה (“Wisdom”) speaks in the first person, not as an abstract principle but as a living, self-aware entity. The line unfolds as a two-part self-description:
- אֲנִי־חָכְמָה שָׁכַנְתִּי עָרְמָה – “I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence.”
- וְדַעַת מְזִמֹּות אֶמְצָא – “And knowledge of discretion I find.”
Syntax and Structure
- The subject אֲנִי־חָכְמָה is emphatic—Wisdom identifies herself directly.
- שָׁכַנְתִּי (Qal perfect 1cs, root שָׁכַן) signals a settled, intentional dwelling, not a passing visit.
- עָרְמָה here means “prudence” or “shrewdness,” a morally positive quality of careful foresight.
- Parallelism ties דַעַת (“knowledge”) with מְזִמֹּות (“plans, strategies”), deepening the theme from insight to action.
Lexical Nuances
| Word | Root | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| חָכְמָה | חכמ | Noun, fs | Wisdom, skill, applied understanding |
| עָרְמָה | ערמ | Noun, fs | Prudence, shrewdness, practical foresight |
| מְזִמֹּות | זמם | Noun, fp | Plans, strategies, deliberate designs |
Theological and Poetic Depth
Wisdom here is not just moral virtue but a fusion of *insight* (דַעַת) and *strategy* (מְזִמֹּות). This union suggests that true wisdom is both reflective and tactical—it understands deeply and acts deliberately.
Living with Prudence
The imagery of “dwelling” with prudence implies ongoing partnership. Wisdom is not aloof; she shares a home with foresight and actively seeks out knowledge that shapes plans. In Hebrew thought, this makes her indispensable for righteous leadership, careful judgment, and skilled living.