Proverbs 8:15

Kings reign. Early expositors took these words as applying to Christ. There seems to be a transition somewhere in this chapter from a personification of wisdom as an abstract quality to Christ’s being personified by the figure of wisdom. There is no verification of such a transition by a direct quotation from this chapter in the NT, although in Rev. 3:14 there is an allusion to the LXX translation of Prov. 8:22 that would tend to equate the speakers of these respective passages. It is true that many of the attributes the speaker of Prov. 8 ascribes to himself are descriptive also of the work and nature of Christ. However, Inspiration must remain the guide as to which sections of the passage can be positively regarded as having an application also, or perhaps exclusively, to Christ (see TM 200; IT 396, 397; Ed 142; PP 34; DA 764; see on Deut. 18:15).

The statement, “by me kings reign,” is true equally of Christ as of wisdom. The Bible makes it clear that there is no power apart from God and that the length of time a ruler retains authority is determined by an overruling providence (Dan. 2:20, 21; 4:17; Rom. 13:1; cf. PK 535).