New English Translation
Proverbs 27:21
21As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, so a person is proved by the praise he receives.
Proverbs 27:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
- New International Version (NIV)The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him.
Context of Proverbs 27:21
19As in water the face is reflected as a face, so a person’s heart reflects the person. 20As Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so the eyes of a person are never satisfied. As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, so a person is proved by the praise he receives. 22If you should pound the fool in the mortar among the grain with the pestle, his foolishness would not depart from him. 23Pay careful attention to the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds,
Read all of Proverbs 27Proverbs 27:21 word by word
מַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ לְפִ֣י מַהֲלָלֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 27:21
- Proverbs 17:3The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the Lord tests hearts.
- Psalms 12:6The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.
- Psalms 66:10For you, O God, tested us; you purified us like refined silver.
- Zechariah 13:9Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire; I will refine them like silver is refined and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer; I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”
- Malachi 3:3He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering.
- 1 Peter 1:7Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
- 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- 1 Samuel 18:7The women who were playing the music sang, “Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!”
- 2 Samuel 14:25Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance.
- 2 Samuel 15:6Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel.
Commentaries on Proverbs 27:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21As the fining pot for silver - As silver and gold are tried by the art of the refiner, so is a man's heart by the praise he receives. If he feel it not, he deserves it; if he be puffed up by it, he is worthless.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21So is - Better, So let a man be to his praise, let him purify it from all the alloy of flattery and baseness with which it is too probably mixed up.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21Verse 21 Silver and gold are tried by putting them into the furnace and fining-pot; so is a man tried by praising him.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21A person who stays humble when praised shows a pure character (see Proverbs 17:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Praise tests character. a man to his praise--according to his praise, as he bears it. Thus vain men seek it, weak men are inflated by it, wise men disregard it, &c.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 27:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 27
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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