Proverbs 9:10

the beginning of wisdom See Proverbs 1:7, note, where however the Heb. word for "beginning" is different. Between the antagonistic companies (dealt with in Proverbs 9:7) of "her children" (Matthew 11:19), who have already accepted her invitation, and who love her for her reproofs and profit by her instruction (Proverbs 9:8), and of the "scorners" and "wicked," who hate and defame her (Proverbs 9:7), there is the as yet neutral company of the "simple," to whom Wisdom now resumes her direct appeal. And in doing so she reverts to first principles, and lays down again the essential condition on which alone wisdom can be attained.

the holy Rather, the Holy One. The word is plural, the plural of excellence or dignity. The parallel between the clauses of the verse is thus preserved. The same word occurs in Proverbs 30:3; Hosea 11:12 [Hebrews 12:1], where it is rendered, as it is here, the Holy One, in R.V.

The A.V., in its rendering of the phrase, follows the LXX. (βουλὴ ἁγίων) and Vulg. (scientia sanctorum).