Raising Wise Children

11 that truth in the next two verses, (1:8-9), and throughout the first nine chapters of the Book of Proverbs. But for now, focus on verse 7 and its companion verse found in Proverbs 9:10. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7, NIV). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10, NIV). These verses are called variously by commentators the controlling principle of Proverbs, or the basic principle of the Book of Proverbs, or even the motto of the Book. 1 Both verses talk about a beginning. In 1:7, something is the beginning of knowledge. In 9:10, that same something is the beginning of wisdom. The Hebrew behind the English word, beginning, “…means either the starting point of knowledge, or its basic, ruling principle. The latter is in view here.” 2 Certainly, it is easy to see that our gracious God allows and enables unbelievers to know much about the world, but without the basic ruling principle of Proverbs, there is something lacking that would enable unbelievers to know what anything ultimately means.