Proverbs 8:27
New International Version
I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

New Living Translation
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.

English Standard Version
When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

Berean Standard Bible
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

King James Bible
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

New King James Version
When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,

New American Standard Bible
“When He established the heavens, I was there; When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

NASB 1995
“When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

NASB 1977
“When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

Legacy Standard Bible
When He established the heavens, I was there, When He marked out a circle on the face of the deep,

Amplified Bible
“When He established the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; When He drew a circle upon the face of the deep,

Christian Standard Bible
I was there when he established the heavens, when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I was there when He established the heavens, when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,

American Standard Version
When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
When the Heavens were established, I was with him, and when he made a circle over the face of the depths.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:

Contemporary English Version
I was there when the LORD put the heavens in place and stretched the sky over the surface of the sea.

Douay-Rheims Bible
When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:

English Revised Version
When he established the heavens, I was there: when he set a circle upon the face of the deep:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"When he set up the heavens, I was there. When he traced the horizon on the surface of the ocean,

Good News Translation
I was there when he set the sky in place, when he stretched the horizon across the ocean,

International Standard Version
when he crafted the heavens, I was there— when he marked out a circle on the face of the deep,

JPS Tanakh 1917
When He established the heavens, I was there; When He set a circle upon the face of the deep,

Literal Standard Version
In His preparing the heavens I [am] there, | In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,

Majority Standard Bible
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

New American Bible
When he established the heavens, there was I, when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep;

NET Bible
When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep,

New Revised Standard Version
When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

New Heart English Bible
When he established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

Webster's Bible Translation
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

World English Bible
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

Young's Literal Translation
In His preparing the heavens I am there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Excellence of Wisdom
26before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth. 27I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, 28when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,…

Cross References
Job 26:10
He has inscribed a horizon on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.

Proverbs 3:19
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

Proverbs 8:26
before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.

Proverbs 8:28
when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

Isaiah 40:22
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.


Treasury of Scripture

When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass on the face of the depth:

he prepared

Psalm 33:6
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Psalm 103:19
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Psalm 136:5
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

compass or encircle

Isaiah 40:11,22
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young…

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Arch Circle Compass Decreeing Deep Depth Drew Established Face Heavens Horizon Inscribed Marked Ordained Prepared Preparing Ready Surface
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Arch Circle Compass Decreeing Deep Depth Drew Established Face Heavens Horizon Inscribed Marked Ordained Prepared Preparing Ready Surface
Proverbs 8
1. the fame
6. and evidence of wisdom
10. The excellence
12. the nature
15. the power
18. the riches
22. and the eternity of wisdom
32. Wisdom is to be desired for the blessedness it brings














(27) When he set a compass upon the face of the depth--i.e., when He stretched the vault of heaven over it: the same expression is used in Job 22:14. It is also interpreted of the circle of the horizon.

Verse 27. - After asserting the pre-existence of Wisdom, the writer tells her part in the work of creation. When he prepared the heavens, I was there. When God made the firmament, and divided the waters above it and below (Genesis 1:7), Wisdom cooperated. When he set a compass upon the face of the depth. חוּג (chug), "circle," or "circuit" (as Job 22:14), means the vault of heaven, conceived of as resting on the ocean which surrounds the earth, in partial accordance with the notion in Homer, who speaks of the streams of ocean flowing back into itself (ἀψόῥῤοος), 'Iliad,' 18:399; 'Odyssey,' 10:508, etc. That the reference is not to the marking out a limit for the waters is plain from the consideration that this interpretation would make the verse identical with ver. 29. Thus in Isaiah 40:22 we have, "It is he that sitteth above the circle (chug) of the earth;" i.e. the vault of heaven that encircles the earth. Septuagint, "When he marked out (ἀφώριζε) his throne upon the winds." The translators have referred tchom, "depth," to the waters above.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I
אָ֑נִי (’ā·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

was there
שָׁ֣ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

when He established
בַּהֲכִינ֣וֹ (ba·hă·ḵî·nōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

the heavens,
שָׁ֭מַיִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

when He inscribed
בְּח֥וּקוֹ (bə·ḥū·qōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2710: To hack, engrave, to enact, prescribe

the horizon
ח֝֗וּג (ḥūḡ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2329: Vault, horizon

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the face
פְּנֵ֥י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the deep,
תְהֽוֹם׃ (ṯə·hō·wm)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 8415: An abyss, the deep


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 8:27 When he established the heavens I was (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 8:26
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