The interpretation timeline

Prov 2:5

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

3 Patristic · 1 Jewish · 1 Medieval · 1 Reformed

Prov 2:5 · Douay-Rheims
“Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.”
Patristic before A.D. 750
254
A.D.
Origen Patristic
c. A.D. 184–253
“Solomon says, "You will find a divine sense." For he knew that there were in us two kinds of senses, the one being mortal, corruptible and human, and the other immortal and intellectual, which here he calls "divine." By this divine sense, therefore, not of the eyes but of a pure heart, that is, the mind, God can be seen by those who are worthy.”
Source
399
A.D.
Evagrius Ponticus Patristic
c. A.D. 345–399
“Wisdom and understanding must precede, in order for the fear of God to coexist along with them.”
336 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
735
A.D.
Bede Patristic
A.D. 673–735
“Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, etc. If you seek with a careful heart, you will come to the experience of the loving fear of the Lord, which is not only the beginning but the perfection of heavenly wisdom in this life alone. And thus perfect love does not cast it out (I John IV), but makes it endure forever. And you will find the knowledge of his divinity, which makes perpetually blessed.”
Source
370 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Scholastic c. 1100 – 1500
1105
A.D.
Rashi Jewish
1040–1105
“then you will understand the fear of the Lord This refers back to the topic above, in which he said, “For if you call for understanding.””
169 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
1274
A.D.
Bonaventure Medieval
c. A.D. 1221–1274
“"If you call upon wisdom and incline your heart to prudence and seek her as money and dig for her as for treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." Prudential understanding teaches what is to be avoided, namely every evil. Whoever wishes to have this understanding must seek it with desire of heart and diligence of effort; and what then will you find? Certainly, the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God. For every person who wishes to be directed toward the good must fear God, so as to avoid every evil.”
Source
597 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Post-Reformation c. 1650 – 1900
1871
A.D.
Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.