Proverbs 17:3

Proverbs 17:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.
• New International Version (NIV)The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.

Context of Proverbs 17:3

1It is better to eat a piece of dry bread in a quiet place, than to eat a big feast in a house full of arguments. 2A slave who is wise will have authority over a son who does stupid things. When his master dies, that slave will receive some of his valuable things. You need a hot fire to make silver and gold become pure. It is the Lord who does that for people, to show what they are really like. 4People who do evil things listen to evil advice. People who tell lies listen to other people's lies. 5If you laugh at poor people, you are insulting God, who made them. If you are happy when trouble happens to other people, you will receive the punishment that you deserve.

Proverbs 17:3 word by word

מַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וּבֹחֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The fining potמַצְרֵףmitsrêph · crucibleH4715
• for silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
• and the furnaceכּוּרkûr · furnaceH3564
• for goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
• but the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• triethבָּחַןbâchan · to testH974
• the heartsלִבָּהlibbâh · heartH3826

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:3

• Proverbs 27:21You need a hot fire to see if silver and gold are pure. In the same way, when people praise you, they can see what you are really like.
• Psalms 26:2Test me, Lord, and see how I have lived. Look into my mind and see my thoughts.
• Psalms 66:10You have tested us, God. You wanted to make us pure, as they make silver pure in a hot fire.
• Isaiah 48:10Listen! I have made you pure. But I have not done it in the way that people make silver pure. Instead, I have sent pain and trouble to you. That is how I make you pure.
• Jeremiah 17:10But I, the Lord, look inside a person's mind. I see what he thinks and what he feels. I see how everyone lives, and I see the things that they do. I give to each one what he deserves.
• Zechariah 13:9I will bring these people through fire. As men clean silver in the fire, so I will clean them. As men test gold in the fire, so I will test them. They will speak my name and I will answer them. I will say, “They are my people.” They will say, “The Lord is our God.” ’
• Malachi 3:2‘But when he comes, he will be like a hot fire that makes metal pure. He will be like strong soap that makes clothes completely clean. Nobody will be able to stand in front of him when he appears. On that day, nobody will remain the same.
• 1 Peter 1:7The purpose of these troubles is to show whether you really trust God. When you believe in Jesus, that is more valuable even than gold. People put gold into a hot fire to see if it is really good. And even gold will come to an end one day. But if you continue to trust God in your troubles, he will be very happy. On the day when Jesus Christ returns and appears to everyone, God will praise you. He will say that you have done well. That will be great!
• Revelation 2:23I will send a terrible illness to kill those who obey her. Then all the people in the churches will know that I look deep inside them. I know what you really want. I know what you really think. I will give each of you what is right for you, as a result of what you have done.

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The fining pot is for silver - When silver is mixed, or suspected to be mixed, with base metal, it must be subjected to such a test as the cupel to purify it. And gold also must be purified by the action of the fire. So God tries hearts. He sends afflictions which penetrate the soul, and give a man to see his state, so that he may apply to the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, to destroy what cannot stand the fire, to separate and burn up all…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Wonderful as is the separation of the pure metal from the dross with which it has mingled, there is something yet more wonderful in the divine discipline which purifies the good that lies hid, like a grain of gold, even in rough and common natures, and frees it from all admixture of evil. Compare Malachi 3:2; 1 Peter 1:7.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3Verse 3 God tries the heart by affliction. He thus has often shown the sin remaining in the heart of the believer.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The Lord's refining fire (see Psalm 66:10; Jeremiah 9:7; Malachi 3:2–3) removes impurities from a person's heart, leaving only what is valuable (compare Proverbs 16:2; 21:2; 27:21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. God only knows, as He tries (Psa 12:6; 66:10) the heart.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:3

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Furnace
• God Continued...
• Gold
• Heart
• Silver

In the dictionaries

• Fining pot
• Fine
• Friend
• Furnace
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Affliction

Commentaries on Proverbs 17

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings