Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
Parallel translations
- WEB Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
- KJV Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting 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.
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 defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
- Eccl 9:16–18Then I said, “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 don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
- Prov 16:16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
- Phil 3:8Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ
- Mark 8:36–37For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
- Matt 13:44–46“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
- Ps 119:104Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. NUN
- Luke 12:20“But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared — whose will they be?’
- Ps 49:16–20Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
- Prov 21:6Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
- Luke 10:42but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
- Eccl 2:4–9I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
- Eccl 4:8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
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.