8:3

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. The lines of this verse are also parallel with 8:2. Both verses describe the locations where Wisdom stands to speak to the people.

3a
Beside the gates to the city,

3b
at the entrances she cries out:

8:3a–b

Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances: In Hebrew, the word to is literally “at the mouth of.” It refers to the entrance of the city. The word entrances refers to the openings in the city walls that the gates closed off. Together, these three expressions refer to the area near the gates of the city, where people commonly gathered to talk and conduct business. It is probably not the same location as 8:2. The different locations indicate that Wisdom regularly appeals to people wherever they are located.

If your readers would not understand city gates as a place where there were many people, you may want to add a footnote. See the suggested wording for a footnote in 1:21a–b.

8:3b

she cries out: This phrase means to proclaim in a loud voice so that everyone can hear. The same verb was used in 1:20a. See the note on 1:20a–b.

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