New King James Version
Proverbs 25:2
2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Proverbs 25:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
- New International Version (NIV)It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
- English Standard Version (ESV)It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
- New Living Translation (NLT)It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.
Context of Proverbs 25:2
1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. 3As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. 4Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.
Read all of Proverbs 25Proverbs 25:2 word by word
כְּבֹ֣ד אֱ֭לֹהִים הַסְתֵּ֣ר דָּבָ֑ר וּכְבֹ֥ד מְ֝לָכִ֗ים חֲקֹ֣ר דָּבָֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 25:2
- Deuteronomy 29:29“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
- Job 11:7“Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
- Job 38:4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
- Job 40:2“Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”
- Job 42:3You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
- Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
- 1 Kings 3:9Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
- 1 Kings 4:29And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore.
- Ezra 4:15that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed.
- Ezra 5:17Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.
- Ezra 6:1Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
- Job 29:16I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know.
Commentaries on Proverbs 25:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing - This has been understood as referring to the revelation of God's will in his word, where there are many things concealed in parables, allegories, metaphors, similitudes, etc. And it is becoming the majesty of God so to publish his will, that it must be seriously studied to be understood, in order that the truth may be more prized when it is discovered. And if it be God's glory thus partially to conceal his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The earthly monarch might be, in some respects, the type of the heavenly, but here there is a marked contrast. The king presses further and further into all knowledge; God surrounds Himself as in “thick darkness,” and there are secrets unrevealed even after the fullest revelation.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3This warning advises young men entering royal service that some things are beyond understanding, like the king's mysterious reasoning (for example, 2 Samuel 11:14–25; 24:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. God's unsearchableness impresses us with awe (compare Is 45:15; Ro 11:33). But kings, being finite, should confer with wise counsellors;Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 25:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 25
- 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