Ὅτι ἐν σκιᾷ αὐτῆς ἡ σοφία ὡς σκιὰ τοῦ ἀργυρίου, καὶ περισσεία γνώσεως τῆς σοφίας ζωοποιήσει τὸν παρ᾽ αὐτῆς. (Ecclesiastes 7:12 LXX)
For in its shadow wisdom is like the shadow of silver, and the abundance of knowledge of wisdom will give life to the one who is from her.
Wisdom, Wealth, and the Power to Give Life
This poetic LXX verse intertwines metaphor and syntax, showing wisdom as both protective and life-giving. The verse revolves around a contrast between wisdom and silver, expressed through careful declension patterns: genitives of comparison, nominatives of identity, and accusatives of effect. Let’s explore how these forms illuminate the theology and imagery.
Declension Analysis Table
| Greek Word | Morphology | Case & Syntactic Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| σκιᾷ | 1st declension feminine dative singular | Dative of location or sphere | “In its shadow” — metaphorical shelter or protection |
| αὐτῆς | 3rd person singular feminine personal pronoun, genitive | Genitive of possession | Refers back to σοφία — “her shadow” |
| ἡ σοφία | 1st declension feminine nominative singular with article | Subject of implied copula with ὡς | Wisdom is the main subject; compared metaphorically to a shadow |
| σκιὰ τοῦ ἀργυρίου | 1st declension feminine nominative + 2nd declension neuter genitive | Nominative noun with genitive of comparison or possession | “Like the shadow of silver” — simile expressing parallel protection or value |
| περισσεία | 1st declension feminine nominative singular | Subject of ζωοποιήσει | “Abundance” — emphasized as the active life-giving agent |
| γνώσεως | 3rd declension feminine genitive singular | Genitive of content or description | “Abundance of knowledge” — defining the nature of the abundance |
| τῆς σοφίας | 1st declension feminine genitive singular with article | Genitive of source | Knowledge that comes from wisdom — internal attribute or origin |
| ζωοποιήσει | Future active indicative, 3rd person singular from ζωοποιέω | Main verb | “Will give life” — the climax and theological payoff |
| τὸν (from τὸν παρ᾽ αὐτῆς) | Definite article, accusative masculine singular | Accusative direct object of ζωοποιήσει | “The one who is from her” — the person receiving life |
| παρ᾽ αὐτῆς | Preposition + genitive feminine pronoun | Genitive of source | “From her” — emphasizing wisdom as the origin of the life-giving relationship |
From Shadow to Surplus: Genitive Layers
The genitives in this verse layer meaning upon meaning:
– σκιᾷ αὐτῆς: the dative + genitive pair establishes location and possession.
– σκιὰ τοῦ ἀργυρίου: comparison to silver’s shadow highlights both value and ephemerality.
– γνώσεως τῆς σοφίας: a cascading double genitive — the knowledge that stems from and belongs to wisdom.
These genitive constructions define the character of wisdom as both protective and generative.
The Dative That Encircles and the Accusative That Lives
– The dative σκιᾷ establishes the environment—wisdom as a shaded realm of influence.
– The accusative τὸν παρ᾽ αὐτῆς identifies the beneficiary. The article + participial phrase treats “the one who is from her” (wisdom) as a defined entity, highlighting spiritual lineage.
Declensions That Enlighten and Animate
This verse builds its theology through declension. The genitives specify wisdom’s attributes, the dative draws the reader into its domain, and the accusative names the recipient of her vitality. Here, grammar doesn’t merely describe wisdom—it animates her as a nourishing mother. The syntax is no less inspired than the meaning: wisdom gives life through the power of grammatical clarity.
