She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Parallel translations
- WEB She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
- BSB She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
- NKJV She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
- NASB She is more precious than jewels, And nothing you desire compares with her.
- NLT Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
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
Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares to her. It matters because it ranks wisdom above every other object of desire.
Overview
Heightening the comparison of verse 14, wisdom outshines costly jewels and exceeds all that one might want. Nothing in this world rivals her worth. The believer rightly treasures wisdom above all, and supremely Christ, the pearl of great price (Matt. 13:46).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 8:11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
- Prov 31:10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
- Job 28:18No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
- Rom 8:18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
- Ps 73:25–26Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
- Ps 63:3Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
- Prov 20:15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
- Matt 13:44–46Again, 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 3:15 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.