If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Parallel translations
- WEB If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:
- BSB if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,
- NKJV If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
- NASB If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;
- NLT Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
We must seek wisdom as earnestly as hidden silver and treasure. It matters because it shows the diligent effort true wisdom requires.
Overview
Wisdom is compared to precious metal and buried treasure worth searching for with all one's energy. The image conveys both the great value of wisdom and the diligence of pursuit. This echoes Jesus' parable of the treasure in the field, sought and prized above all (Matt. 13:44).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Matt 13:44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
- Prov 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
- Matt 19:29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
- Prov 8:18–19Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
- Job 3:21Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
- Job 28:12–20But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
- Prov 23:23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
- Prov 3:14–15For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
- Matt 19:21–22Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
- Eccl 4:8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
- Matt 6:19–21Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
- Ps 119:14I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
- Ps 119:72The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
- Luke 16:8And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
- Ps 19:10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 2:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.