New Living Translation
Proverbs 25:2
2It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.
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 King James Version (NKJV)It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Context of Proverbs 25:2
1These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah. It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them. 3No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind! 4Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.
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 Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.
- Job 11:7“Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty?
- Job 38:4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
- Job 40:2“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
- Job 42:3You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.
- Romans 11:33Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
- 1 Kings 3:9Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
- 1 Kings 4:29God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore.
- Ezra 4:15We suggest that a search be made in your ancestors’ records, where you will discover what a rebellious city this has been in the past. In fact, it was destroyed because of its long and troublesome history of revolt against the kings and countries who controlled it.
- Ezra 5:17“Therefore, if it pleases the king, we request that a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to discover whether King Cyrus ever issued a decree to rebuild God’s Temple in Jerusalem. And then let the king send us his decision in this matter.”
- Ezra 6:1So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury.
- Job 29:16I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.
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
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