If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Parallel translations
- WEB If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:
- KJV If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid 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;
- 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 13:44“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
- Prov 16:16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
- Matt 19:29Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.
- Prov 8:18–19With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
- Job 3:21Who long for death, but it doesn’t come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
- Job 28:12–20“But where shall wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?
- Prov 23:23Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
- Prov 3:14–15For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.
- Matt 19:21–22Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
- Eccl 4:8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
- Matt 6:19–21“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
- Ps 119:14I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
- Ps 119:72The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. YUD
- Luke 16:8“His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.
- Ps 19:10More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the extract of 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.