English Standard Version
Proverbs 17:3
3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
Context of Proverbs 17:3
1Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. 2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. 4An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. 5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
Read all of Proverbs 17Proverbs 17:3 word by word
מַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וּבֹחֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 17:3
- Proverbs 27:21The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.
- Psalms 26:2Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
- Psalms 66:10For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.
- Isaiah 48:10Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
- Jeremiah 17:10"I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
- Zechariah 13:9And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The Lord is my God.'"
- Malachi 3:2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.
- 1 Peter 1:7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 2:23and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries