Sophia : Engendering Wisdom in Proverbs, Ben Sira and the Wisdom of Solomon

Abstract

This paper considers the literary effect achieved through engendering divine wisdom in three texts. In the book of Proverbs, wisdom is compared to a good wife who provides a safe and stable homelife as an alternative to the frightening sexuality of alternatives. In Ben Sira, wisdom is engendered in order to stir the same kind of passion for the Law as one might have for a beautiful woman. In the Wisdom of Solomon, wisdom is engendered as male, female and 'other' in order to retain its mystery. It thus remains a 'riddle' to be interpreted by future generations. Engendering divine wisdom shapes these metaphors and allows them to function in very different ways.