WHO IS "SHE" IN PROVERBS 9?
In order to answer this question, first I would like to explain a word that appears toward the end of Proverbs chapter 9 -- the word fear.
The Hebrew words יִרְאַ֣ת (yir'aṯ) and פחד (p̄aḥaḏ) are most commonly used to describe fear of Yahweh / God.
In some Bible verses the English word "fear" is a translation of the Hebrew noun פחד (pahhad), meaning "shaking," or as verb meaning "to shake."
In other uses of the word "fear" it is derived from the noun יראה yirah and the verb yarah.
The verb ירה (yara) means to throw, cast or shoot. The literal concrete meaning of yara is a "flowing of the gut," which can be applied to "fear" or "reverence."
PROVERBS 9.10: "THE FEAR OF ADONAI IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY ONE IS UNDERSTANDING."
In Proverbs 9.10 it is written יהוה יראת yirat Yahweh. (Fear God). Yirat is a feminine use of yirah, the noun for fear.
Now, with these points about the feminine use of the word fear in mind, revist Proverbs 9 from the beginning.
1 Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant girls. She calls from the city’s heights:
4 “Whoever is naïve, turn in here!” To those who lack understanding, she says:
5 “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Abandon your foolish ways and live! Walk in the way of understanding.”
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer is asking for insult. Whoever reproves a wicked man gets abuse.
8 Do not correct a scoffer or he will hate you. Rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still. Teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through me your days will be many and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, but if you scoff, you bear it alone.
13 The foolish woman is rowdy. She is naïve and knows nothing.
14 So she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,
15 calling to those who pass by, who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever is naïve, let him turn in here.” To those who lack understanding, she says:
17 “Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there— her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Now you can answer my opening question. Who is "SHE" in Proverbs 9? "SHE" is the fear of Yahweh personified. SHE IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM!!
Therefore, it is fair to say that fear of the Lord is a healthy thing. It is one way to put the Bible in context. Let's apply this context to Proverbs 1.
PROVERBS 1:20-33
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the streets, she raises her voice in public squares.
21 She cries out above the commotion. At the entrances of the city gates, she utters her speech:
22 “How long will you naïve ones love simplicity you scoffers delight in scoffing, and you fools hate knowledge?
23 You are repulsed at my rebuke. Behold, I pour out my heart to you. I will make my words known to you.
24 Because you refused when I called, and did not pay attention when I stretched out my hand,
25 since you ignore all my advice and would not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when dread comes on you,
27 when your terror comes like a storm and your calamity sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when trouble and distress overwhelm you!
28 Then they will cry out to me, but I will not answer! They will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Adonai,
30 they would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof,
31 so they will eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own schemes.
32 For the backsliding of the naïve will kill them and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever pays attention to me will live securely, and be free from the fear of evil.”
Beholding great sights are known to fill humans with both wonder and fear.
"And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses." Exodus 14.31
"So terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am quaking with fear." Hebrews 12.21
