New King James Version
Proverbs 17:3
3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests 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 quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. 2A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts. 4An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. 5He who mocks the poor reproaches 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 refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him.
- Psalms 26:2Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.
- Psalms 66:10For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.
- Isaiah 48:10Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
- Jeremiah 17:10I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
- Zechariah 13:9I will bring the one–third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
- Malachi 3:2“But 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 launderers’ soap.
- 1 Peter 1:7that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
- Revelation 2:23I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries