I was reading the Book of Wisdom out loud. When I got to Chapter 1 verse 4: “Because into a soul that plots evil wisdom enters not, nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.”

“She?” Jay interrupted. I stopped reading. The patriarchs don’t refer to the feminine by accident. Is it just a politically correct translation?

There was a footnote that referenced the Book of Sirach Chapter 15 Verses 1 to 8:

“He who fears the Lord will do this;
he who is practiced in the law will come to wisdom.
Motherlike she will meet him,
like a young bride she will embrace him,
Nourish him with the bread of understanding,
and give him the water of learning to drink.
He will lean upon her and not fall,
he will trust in her and not be put to shame.
She will exalt him above his fellows;
in the assembly she will make him eloquent.
Joy and gladness he will find,
an everlasting name inherit.
Worthless men will not attain to her
haughty men will not behold her.
Far from the impious is she,
not to be spoken of by liars.”

The Book of Sirach is not included in the Hebrew Bible after the first century A.D. It is also not accepted by the Protestants. It is, however, considered divinely inspired by the Catholic Church.

Wisdom is a she.

The Book of Proverbs also refer to Wisdom as feminine. Chapter 3 Verses 13 to 18:

“Happy the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding!
For her profit is better than profit in silver,
and better than gold is her revenue;
She is more precious than corals,
and none of your choice possessions can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand,
in her left are riches and honor;
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace;
She is a tree of life to those who grasp her,
and he is happy who holds her fast.”

The Goddess of Wisdom is called Athena by the ancient Greeks, Sophia by the ancient Romans (from which the word Philosophy was derived: “love of wisdom”).

Goddess Ninki

The Goddess Ninki, half-sister to Enki, the Sumerian God of Wisdom, was said to have given birth to Adam, according to ancient Sumerian tablets, likely the source of the earliest chapters of the Book of Genesis. She was known as Ishtar to the ancient Babylonians.

There are references to the Star Fire, the Goddess menstrual blood, as the source of wisdom and long life of the early patriarchs.

Blood, anyone?