Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 2:4
4if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure,
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
2listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; 3furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, 5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. 6For the Lord gives 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 she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold.
- Proverbs 8:18With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
- Proverbs 16:16Get wisdom — how much better it is than gold! And get understanding — it is preferable to silver.
- Proverbs 23:23Buy — and do not sell — truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
- Psalms 19:10They are more desirable than gold — than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
- Psalms 119:14I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches.
- Matthew 6:19“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
- Matthew 13:44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
- Matthew 19:21“If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
- Job 28:12But where can wisdom be found, and where is understanding located?
- Ecclesiastes 4:8There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. “Who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself of good things?” This too is futile and a miserable task.
- Luke 16:8“The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people.
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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