For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
Parallel translations
- WEB For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
- BSB For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
- NKJV For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
- NASB “For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.
- NLT For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.
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 surpasses rubies and anything we could desire. Nothing we crave can be compared to her worth.
Overview
This verse caps the appeal of the previous one, declaring wisdom incomparable to even the rarest jewels. The point is not that material things are evil but that they are dwarfed by the value of knowing and walking with God. Paul echoes this when he counts all things loss compared to knowing Christ, in whom 'all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden' (Philippians 3:8; Colossians 2:3).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 4:5–7Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
- Prov 3:14–15For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
- Ps 19:10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
- Prov 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
- Prov 20:15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
- Matt 16:26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Job 28:15–19It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
- Phil 3:8–9Yea 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,
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 8:11 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.