A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
Parallel translations
- WEB The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
- KJV As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
- NKJV The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him.
- NASB The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him.
- NLT Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.
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
As fire refines precious metals, praise tests and reveals a person's character. It warns that how we handle praise exposes what we truly are.
Overview
Comparing the crucible and furnace to the test of praise, the proverb teaches that commendation reveals whether a person is humble or proud. Praise can refine the godly or expose the vain. The believer is called to receive any honor with humility, ultimately seeking the praise that comes from God rather than men (John 12:43).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 17:3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
- Zech 13:9This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”
- Ps 66:10For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.
- 1 Pet 1:7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Mal 3:3And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
- Ps 12:6The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.
- 1 Sam 18:30Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.
- 1 Pet 4:12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- 1 Sam 18:7–8And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
- 1 Sam 18:15–16When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.
- 2 Sam 14:25Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.
- 2 Sam 15:6–12Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
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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 27:21 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
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