Proverbs 2:4

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 thou incline thine ear unto wisdom [and] thou apply thy heart to understanding; 3yea, if thou criest after discernment [and] liftest up thy voice to understanding; if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasures: 5then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God. 6For Jehovah giveth wisdom; out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:4 word by word

אִם־תְּבַקְשֶׁ֥נָּה כַכָּ֑סֶף וְֽכַמַּטְמוֹנִ֥ים תַּחְפְּשֶֽׂנָּה׃Read the interlinear

• silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701

Cross-references for Proverbs 2:4

• Proverbs 3:14For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
• Proverbs 8:18Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.
• Proverbs 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than fine gold, and the getting of intelligence to be preferred to silver!
• Proverbs 23:23Buy the truth, and sell it not; wisdom, and instruction, and intelligence.
• Psalms 19:10They are more precious than gold, yea, than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey and the dropping of the honeycomb.
• Psalms 119:14I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all wealth.
• Matthew 6:19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust spoils, and where thieves dig through and steal;
• Matthew 13:44The kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hid in the field, which a man having found has hid, and for the joy of it goes and sells all whatever he has, and buys that field.
• Matthew 19:21Jesus said to him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell what thou hast and give to [the] poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
• Job 28:12But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?
• Ecclesiastes 4:8There is one [alone] and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.
• Luke 16:8And the lord praised the unrighteous steward because he had done prudently. For the sons of this world are, for their own generation, more prudent than the sons of light.

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

• Desire
• Hunger
• Personification
• Seekers
• Wisdom
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Treasure; Treasurer; Treasury
• Wisdom

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