Amplified Bible
Proverbs 2:4
4If you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver And search for her as you would hidden treasures;
Proverbs 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
- New International Version (NIV)and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
- English Standard Version (ESV)if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
- New King James Version (NKJV)If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Context of Proverbs 2:4
2So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly]; 3Yes, if you cry out for insight, And lift up your voice for understanding; If you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver And search for her as you would hidden treasures; 5Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] And discover the knowledge of God. 6For the Lord gives [skillful and godly] wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Read all of Proverbs 2Proverbs 2:4 word by word
אִם־תְּבַקְשֶׁ֥נָּה כַכָּ֑סֶף וְֽכַמַּטְמוֹנִ֥ים תַּחְפְּשֶֽׂנָּה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 2:4
- Proverbs 3:14For wisdom’s profit is better than the profit of silver, And her gain is better than fine gold.
- Proverbs 8:18Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness (right standing with God).
- Proverbs 16:16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
- Proverbs 23:23Buy truth, and do not sell it; Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
- Psalms 19:10They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
- Psalms 119:14I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
- Matthew 6:19“Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
- Matthew 13:44“The kingdom of heaven is like a [very precious] treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field [securing the treasure for himself].
- Matthew 19:21Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”
- Job 28:12“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
- Ecclesiastes 4:8There was a certain man—without a dependent, having neither a child nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity (a wisp of smoke, self-conceit); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy task.
- Luke 16:8And his master commended the unjust manager [not for his misdeeds, but] because he had acted shrewdly [by preparing for his future unemployment]; for the sons of this age [the non-believers] are shrewder in relation to their own kind [that is, to the ways of the secular world] than are the sons of light [the believers].
Commentaries on Proverbs 2:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4If thou seekest her as silver - How do men seek money? What will they not do to get rich? Reader, seek the salvation of thy soul as earnestly as the covetous man seeks wealth; and be ashamed of thyself, if thou be less in earnest after the true riches than he is after perishing wealth. Hid treasures - The original word signifies property of any kind concealed in the earth, in caves or such like; and may also mean treasures, such as the precious metals or…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Note the illustrations. (1) Contact with Phoenician commerce, and joint expeditions in ships of Tarshish (see Psalm 72:10 note), had made the Israelites familiar with the risks and the enterprise of the miller‘s life. Compare Matthew 13:44.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4People search for silver or hidden treasures with urgency, excitement, and hope for a reward (see Matthew 13:44; Luke 15:8–10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-221-5. Diligence in hearing and praying for instruction must be used to secure the great principle of godliness, the fear of God. hide ... with thee--lay up in store (compare Pr 7:1).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 2:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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