John Gill Commentary Proverbs 8:22

"Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old." — Proverbs 8:22 (ASV)

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way
Not "created me", as the Targum and the Septuagint version; which version Arius following gave birth to his pernicious doctrine; who from hence concluded Christ is a creature, and was the first creature that God made, not of the same but of a like nature with himself, in some moment or period of eternity; and by whom he made all others: the Word, or Wisdom of God is never said to be created; and if as such he was created, God must have been without his Wisdom before he was created; besides, Christ, as the Word and Wisdom of God, is the Creator of all things, and not created, (John 1:1–3) ;

but this possession is not in right of creation, as the word is sometimes used, (Genesis 4:1) (Deuteronomy 32:6) ; it might be more truly rendered, "the Lord begat me", as the word is translated by the Septuagint in (Zechariah 13:5) ; it denotes the Lord's having, possessing, and enjoying his word and wisdom as his own proper Son; which possession of him is expressed by his being with him and in him, and in his bosom, and as one brought forth and brought up by him; as he was "in the beginning of his way" of creation, when he went forth in his wisdom and power, and created all things; then he did possess his Son, and made use of him, for by him he made the worlds: and "in the beginning of his way" of grace, which was before his way of creation; he began with him when he first went out in acts of grace towards his people; his first thoughts, purposes, and decrees concerning their happiness, were in him; the choice of their persons was made in him; God was in him contriving the scheme of their peace, reconciliation, and salvation; the covenant of grace was made with him, and all fulness of grace was treasured up in him:

the words may be rendered, "the Lord possessed me, the beginning of his way" ^F8 ; that is, who am the beginning, as he is; the beginning of the creation of God, the first cause, the efficient of it, both old and new; see (Colossians 1:18) (Revelation 3:14) . So Aben Ezra, who compares with this (Job 40:19) .

This shows the real and actual existence of Christ from eternity, his relation to Jehovah his Father, his nearness to him, equality with him, and distinction from him: it is added, for further illustration and confirmation's sake, before his works of old ; the creation of the heavens and the earth; a detail of which there is in the following verses.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F8: (wkrd tyvar ynnq) "possidet me principium viae suae", Pagninus, Michaelis, Schultens; "habuit me principium viae suae", Cocceius.