New English Translation
Proverbs 2:4
4if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure,
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
2by making your ear attentive to wisdom, and by turning your heart to understanding, 3indeed, if you call out for discernment – raise your voice for understanding – if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure, 5then you will understand how to fear the Lord, and you will discover knowledge about God. 6For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes 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 her benefit is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than gold.
- Proverbs 8:18Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness.
- Proverbs 16:16How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
- Proverbs 23:23Acquire truth and do not sell it – wisdom, and discipline, and understanding.
- Psalms 19:10They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.
- Psalms 119:14I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules as if they were riches of all kinds.
- Matthew 6:19“Do not accumulate 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 a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.
- Matthew 19:21Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
- Job 28:12“But wisdom – where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding?
- Ecclesiastes 4:8A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!
- Luke 16:8The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people 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
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