The Importance Of Qanah In The Bible

The word qanah in Proverbs 8:22 is controversial because of the way it is used to describe wisdom as a co-creator. Some English translations of the word mean “create,” which would indicate that God created wisdom. The wisdom of God is assigned to Jesus in the New Testament which would indicate that Jesus is a created being. It is important to understand qanah in its usage in Proverbs 8:22-31. This word study will show that qanah can be translated “created” without it diminishing the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 8 & הנק There are various ways in which the verb הנק (qanah) is translated in English Bibles. The verb qanah is used approximately eighty five times in the Hebrew Bible. Qanah is translated in various ways including, “purchased,”

For example, in Genesis 14:19, God is the “possessor” of heaven and earth (cf. Gen. 14:22). The verb qanah could also be translated as creator here as well. God is both the creator and possessor of heaven and earth. In Psalm 139:13, the verb qanah is translated as “formed” or “created,” which seems to be the best translation. For one to say that God “possessed my inward parts” does not make sense. It is God who “created” or “formed” our inward parts in the womb. In other words, God is the creator and sustainer of life. In Proverbs 8:22, the verb qanah could be translated as either “possessed,” or “created,” from the similar verb usages in these other passages. However, from the word study, it does seem that the best translation should be

When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church he was not using figurative language when he said that Jesus is “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24). When the writer of Hebrews proclaims that Jesus is the “radiance” of God’s glory (Heb. 1:3), he is saying that Jesus is God and radiates the glory of God. The way in which Jesus is described is not in a figurative way, but in a literal way. This is a New Testament epistle which uses literal language, instead of poetry which can and does use figurative language. Therefore, qanah can be translated as “created” in Proverbs 8:22 without diminishing the deity of the Lord Jesus