Read & explore together
The covenant’s law overflows with inexhaustible wisdom
This passage from Sirach, a Catholic additional book, links God’s covenant law with wisdom, understanding and instruction. It uses river, light, sea and deep-water images to show that this wisdom is abundant and beyond complete human measurement.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In these verses, Sirach identifies “the book of the covenant of the Most High God” as the law Moses commanded for the assemblies of Jacob. The passage then describes wisdom, understanding and instruction with images drawn from named waters, before stating that no person has fully known or explored wisdom’s depth.
Sirach 24:23–29Main takeaway
Sirach presents God’s covenant law as rich in wisdom and instruction, yet greater than any person can fully grasp.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The covenant law is named plainlySirach begins by saying, “All these things” are “the book of the covenant of the Most High God”.
Explanation
Sirach begins by saying, “All these things” are “the book of the covenant of the Most High God”. He then identifies this as “the law which Moses commanded us” and says it is “for an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob”. The law is therefore presented as a covenant gift belonging to God’s people.
02Wisdom is made abundantThe passage says, “It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the days of first fruits.”
Explanation
The passage says, “It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the days of first fruits.” The emphasis is on what he does: wisdom is made abundant. The river comparisons give a picture of largeness and plenty without changing the passage into a story.
03Understanding is full and instruction shinesSirach continues with two related pictures. Understanding is “full as the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in the days of harvest”.
Explanation
Sirach continues with two related pictures. Understanding is “full as the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in the days of harvest”. Instruction “shine[s] forth as the light, as Gihon in the days of vintage”. Fullness and brightness both describe the richness of what this wisdom gives.
04Wisdom cannot be fully explored by peopleThe final verses stress human limits. “The first man didn’t know her perfectly” and “the last has not explored her.”
Explanation
The final verses stress human limits. “The first man didn’t know her perfectly” and “the last has not explored her.” Then wisdom’s thoughts and counsels are compared to “the sea” and “the great deep”. Sirach’s point is that wisdom’s depth is greater than human mastery.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Sirach say is “the book of the covenant of the Most High God”?
Read the whole sentence carefully and note how Sirach identifies it as the law Moses commanded for the assemblies of Jacob.
02What words does the passage use to describe wisdom, understanding and instruction?
Look for the exact verbs and descriptions: wisdom is made abundant, understanding is full, and instruction shines forth.
03How does Sirach show that people cannot fully grasp wisdom?
Use both the statements about the first and the last person, and the comparison with the sea and the great deep.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 24:23
23All these things are the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us for an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob.
Sirach 24:25–29
25It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the days of first fruits.
26He makes understanding full as the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in the days of harvest,
27who makes instruction shine forth as the light, as Gihon in the days of vintage.
28The first man didn’t know her perfectly. In like manner, the last has not explored her.
29For her thoughts are filled from the sea, and her counsels from the great deep.
Source passages
Source: Sirach 24 ↗Translation and source notes
Some verse numbers are represented by textual notes in World English Bible Classic. The reading below follows the text printed in the main passage.