English Standard Version
Proverbs 2:4
4if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
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,
- New King James Version (NKJV)If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.
Context of Proverbs 2:4
2making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find 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 the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
- Proverbs 8:18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.
- Proverbs 16:16How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
- Proverbs 23:23Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
- Psalms 19:10More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
- Psalms 119:14In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
- Matthew 6:19"Do not lay 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 hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
- Matthew 19:21Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
- Job 28:12"But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
- Ecclesiastes 4:8one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
- Luke 16:8The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation 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
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries