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That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Proverbs 8:21 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB That I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
  • BSB bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
  • NKJV That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.
  • NASB To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.
  • NLT Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.

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 gives lasting wealth to those who love her and fills their treasuries. Loving wisdom leads to genuine, abiding inheritance.

Overview

This verse completes the thought begun in verse 20: walking in righteousness leads to a real and lasting inheritance for those who love wisdom. The 'wealth' and 'treasuries' speak of substantial, abiding good, not just fleeting prosperity. For the believer this points ultimately to the eternal inheritance secured in Christ for those who love God (Ephesians 1:18).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 14

  • Prov 24:4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
  • 1 Pet 1:4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
  • Matt 25:46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
  • Gen 15:14And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
  • 1 Sam 2:8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
  • Heb 10:34For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
  • Prov 1:13We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
  • Ps 16:11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
  • Rev 21:7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
  • Prov 8:18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
  • John 1:1–18In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  • Prov 6:31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
  • Rom 8:17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
  • Eph 3:19–20And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Proverbs videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Proverbs 8:21YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ProverbsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 8:21 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

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.