Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Parallel translations
- WEB Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
- BSB Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
- NKJV Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
- NASB “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
- NLT Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
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 the supreme thing to get, worth more than all you own. Acquiring wisdom and understanding is life's highest priority.
Overview
Often called the 'principal thing,' wisdom is declared worth the cost of all one's possessions. This is the language of the surpassing value that should govern our pursuits. It anticipates Jesus' parables of the treasure and pearl, where everything is gladly given up to gain the kingdom and the wisdom of God (Matt 13:44-46).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Eccl 7:12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
- Eccl 9:16–18Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
- Prov 23:23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
- Prov 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
- Phil 3:8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
- Mark 8:36–37For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
- 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.
- Ps 119:104Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
- Luke 12:20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
- Ps 49:16–20Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
- Prov 21:6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
- Luke 10:42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
- Eccl 2:4–9I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
- Eccl 4:8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 4:7 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.