The global environmental crisis has renewed interest in religious
resources for ecological ethics. While biblical eco-theology has largely
focused on Genesis, Psalms, and the Prophets, the Book of Proverbs
(despite its rich agrarian imagery and creation-centered wisdom) has
received limited scholarly attention. This study addresses that gap by
examining the ecological wisdom embedded in Proverbs, with
particular focus on land ethics, animal care, and the moral order of
creation. Drawing on selected texts such as Proverbs 6:6–8; 12:10; 27:23–
27; and 8:22–31, the research explores how Hebrew wisdom literature
envisions human–nature relationships. Methodologically, the study
employs literary and theological exegesis informed by ecological
hermeneutics and agrarian ethics, while engaging contemporary
ecological theology in dialogue with African indigenous wisdom
traditions. The findings reveal that Proverbs presents creation as
pedagogical and morally instructive rather than as a passive resource
for human exploitation. Nature functions as a teacher of wisdom,
shaping ethical conduct and communal responsibility. Theologically,
Proverbs portrays human beings as stewards situated within a divinely
ordered cosmos, accountable to the rhythms and limits of creation. By
reclaiming Proverbs as a significant yet underutilized eco-theological resource, this study contributes to biblical environmental ethics and
offers practical implications for church education, environmental
advocacy, and public theology, particularly in African contexts. It
further recommends expanded ecological readings of other wisdom
texts, such as Job and Ecclesiastes, alongside African oral traditions.
