By what year was Proverbs believed to be written?

• A. 931 BC
• B. 700 BC
• C. 400 BC
• D. 1200 BC

Answer: (A)

Proverbs is traditionally linked to Solomon, and the book opens with sayings attributed to him. Solomon’s reign is dated to the late 10th century BCE, ending around 931 BCE. Because of that royal link and the timing of Solomon’s life, the conventional belief is that Proverbs was written by or during his era, roughly by 931 BCE. It’s worth noting that later editors likely expanded and adjusted the collection, so while the traditional dating points to Solomon’s time, the final form reflects generations of development. The other dates don’t align with the Solomon attribution and the historical timeline of the monarchy, which is why they aren’t used for this traditional dating.