It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Parallel translations
- KJV It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
- BSB It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
- NKJV It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
- NASB ¶It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
- NLT It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.
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
God is glorified in what he hides, while kings are honored by diligently searching things out. Humans should pursue understanding within their God-given limits.
Overview
God's majesty is shown partly in mysteries beyond human grasp (Deut 29:29; Rom 11:33), whereas a wise ruler's honor lies in investigating and discerning matters rightly. The verse balances reverent humility before God with diligent inquiry in human affairs. It dignifies the pursuit of knowledge while reminding us that God remains infinitely greater than our understanding.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Deut 29:29The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
- Rom 11:33–34Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
- Job 11:7–8“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
- Job 38:4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
- Job 42:3You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know.
- 1 Kgs 4:29–34God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore.
- Job 29:16I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I didn’t know, I searched out.
- 1 Kgs 3:9–28Give your servant therefore 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?”
- Ezra 4:15that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.
- Ezra 4:19I decreed, and search has been made, and it was found that this city has made insurrection against kings in the past, and that rebellion and revolts have been made in it.
- 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 at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”
- Job 40:2“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 25:2 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.