It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Parallel translations
- WEB It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory 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 unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
- Rom 11:33–34O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
- Job 11:7–8Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
- Job 38:4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
- Job 42:3Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
- 1 Kgs 4:29–34And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
- Job 29:16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
- 1 Kgs 3:9–28Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
- Ezra 4:15That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
- Ezra 4:19And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
- Ezra 5:17Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be 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 40:2Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth 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.