Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 27:21
21As a crucible refines silver, and a smelter refines gold, so a person should refine his praise.
Proverbs 27:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
- New International Version (NIV)The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him.
Context of Proverbs 27:21
19As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person. 20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and people’s eyes are never satisfied. As a crucible refines silver, and a smelter refines gold, so a person should refine his praise. 22Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, you will not separate his foolishness from him. 23Know well the condition of your flock, and pay attention to your herds,
Read all of Proverbs 27Proverbs 27:21 word by word
מַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ לְפִ֣י מַהֲלָלֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 27:21
- Proverbs 17:3A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the Lord is the tester of hearts.
- Psalms 12:6The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.
- Psalms 66:10For you, God, tested us; you refined us as silver is refined.
- Zechariah 13:9I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”
- Malachi 3:3He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.
- 1 Peter 1:7so that the proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.
- 1 Samuel 18:7As they danced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.
- 2 Samuel 14:25No man in all Israel was as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.
- 2 Samuel 15:6Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Commentaries on Proverbs 27:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21As the fining pot for silver - As silver and gold are tried by the art of the refiner, so is a man's heart by the praise he receives. If he feel it not, he deserves it; if he be puffed up by it, he is worthless.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21So is - Better, So let a man be to his praise, let him purify it from all the alloy of flattery and baseness with which it is too probably mixed up.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21Verse 21 Silver and gold are tried by putting them into the furnace and fining-pot; so is a man tried by praising him.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21A person who stays humble when praised shows a pure character (see Proverbs 17:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Praise tests character. a man to his praise--according to his praise, as he bears it. Thus vain men seek it, weak men are inflated by it, wise men disregard it, &c.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 27:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 27
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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