The Instruction of Amenemope

work by Amenemope

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June 29, 2026

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The Instruction of Amenemope is an ancient Egyptian work of wisdom literature, likely composed between 1300 and 1075 BCE by an author named Amenemope. This text offers practical advice and moral maxims for living a good life.1

The work is notable for its parallels with the Hebrew Book of Proverbs. Scholars have long debated whether the Book of Proverbs was influenced by Amenemope's work, or vice versa, or if both texts share a common origin or indirect connections.1

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biblical literature
Proverbs
…a piece of Egyptian writing, The Instruction of Amenemope, which has been dated within the broad limits of 1000–600 bce. The Hebrew author apparently used this work as a model—the Egyptian work comprises 30 chapters, and the Hebrew text refers to its “thirty sayings”—and as one of the sources in…
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…a piece of Egyptian writing, The Instruction of Amenemope, which has been dated within the broad limits of 1000–600 bce. The Hebrew author apparently used this work as a model—the Egyptian work comprises 30 chapters, and the Hebrew text refers to its “thirty sayings”—and as one of the sources in…
Read More

Amenemope
The Instruction of Amenemope, probably composed during the late New Kingdom (1300–1075 bce). Amenemope’s text, similar in content to most of the instruction or wisdom literature written earlier, was a collection of maxims and admonitions setting forth practical injunctions for living. In particular, many parallels…
Read More
The Instruction of Amenemope, probably composed during the late New Kingdom (1300–1075 bce). Amenemope’s text, similar in content to most of the instruction or wisdom literature written earlier, was a collection of maxims and admonitions setting forth practical injunctions for living. In particular, many parallels…
Read More