who wrote the book of proverbs

King Solomon is traditionally credited as the principal author of the Book of Proverbs in the Bible.

Traditional Attribution

The book opens by attributing its proverbs to Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, with his name appearing in key sections like Proverbs 1:1, 10:1, and 25:1. Solomon, renowned for his God-given wisdom (as described in 1 Kings 3 and 4:32, where he composed 3,000 proverbs), likely wrote or compiled the majority during his reign around 970–930 BC. This aligns with the Hebrew title Mishle Shelomoh , meaning "Proverbs of Solomon," emphasizing his foundational role.

Multiple Contributors

While Solomon dominates, the text reveals a collaborative anthology nature. Proverbs 22:17–24:22 includes "sayings of the wise," and chapters 25–29 note proverbs "copied by the men of Hezekiah," suggesting later editors under King Hezekiah (around 715–686 BC). Other voices appear too: Agur in Proverbs 30 and King Lemuel in 31:1–9, plus possible influences from Egyptian wisdom like The Instruction of Amenemope in Proverbs 22–23.

Scholarly Perspectives

Modern scholars view Proverbs as compiled over centuries, with Solomon's core contributions edited and expanded post-exile. Despite debates, internal evidence and tradition overwhelmingly tie Solomon to its heart, making it a timeless wisdom guide on topics like morality, family, and folly. No recent news or trends (as of February 2026) shift this consensus—it's a stable biblical topic.

Key Sections by Attribution

Section| Primary Attribution| Focus
---|---|---
Prov. 1–9| Solomon| Wisdom's call vs. folly 7
Prov. 10–22:16| Solomon| Contrasts of wise/foolish 7
Prov. 22:17–24:22| "The Wise"| Moral sayings 7
Prov. 25–29| Solomon (via Hezekiah's men)| Kingly proverbs 5
Prov. 30–31| Agur, Lemuel| Oracles, virtuous woman 9

TL;DR: Solomon wrote most, but it's an edited collection from wise sources over time.

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