Which statement best reflects possible unknown authors of Proverbs?

Which statement best reflects possible unknown authors of Proverbs?

• A. It may have been written by Solomon, Lemuel, Lemuel's mother, or an unknown writer
• B. It was written exclusively by Solomon
• C. It was written only by Hezekiah
• D. It was written solely by Agur

Answer: (A)

Proverbs presents a mosaic of voices rather than a single author. The book names Solomon as the source of many proverbs, especially at the start, but it also includes sections attributed to other figures: Agur, son of Jakeh (Proverbs 30), and King Lemuel with his mother’s teaching (Proverbs 31:1–9). In addition, there are hints that editors—the “men of Hezekiah”—collected and copied Solomon’s sayings and perhaps added material from other sources (as seen in the note about copying and compilation). Because of these varied attributions and the editorial layer, it makes sense to acknowledge the possibility of unknown writers contributing or shaping parts of Proverbs, alongside the named authors. That broader view—Solomon, Lemuel, Lemuel’s mother, or an unknown writer—best reflects the evidence within the book.

Proverbs presents a mosaic of voices rather than a single author. The book names Solomon as the source of many proverbs, especially at the start, but it also includes sections attributed to other figures: Agur, son of Jakeh (Proverbs 30), and King Lemuel with his mother’s teaching (Proverbs 31:1–9). In addition, there are hints that editors—the “men of Hezekiah”—collected and copied Solomon’s sayings and perhaps added material from other sources (as seen in the note about copying and compilation). Because of these varied attributions and the editorial layer, it makes sense to acknowledge the possibility of unknown writers contributing or shaping parts of Proverbs, alongside the named authors. That broader view—Solomon, Lemuel, Lemuel’s mother, or an unknown writer—best reflects the evidence within the book.