Proverbs 3:15
in Proverbs 3She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
KJV
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
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This verse in Proverbs 3
Commentary
7 notes on this verseShe is more precious than rubies,.... Or "pearls" (u), as some; which were formerly esteemed above all precious stones; the eastern were the more valuable (w), which Solomon had most knowledge of; Christ is the pearl of great price, of more value than any pearl, or all put together, Mat 13:46; See Gill on Job 28:18; or "carbuncles" (x), as others.
This site's exposition
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom
on Proverbs 3:13-15
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding opens a hymn to wisdom in miniature, the kind of praise the book gives at greater length in chapter 8. The merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold prices wisdom against the two most stable forms of ancient wealth, and rubies pushes the comparison further still, a value the text states cannot be matched by anything the son might desire instead. The bench notes that this is not a claim wisdom has no cost, since the son is repeatedly told to buy her, but that whatever she costs she is worth more.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
The souls of those who are about to speak with wisdom should first be cleansed through divine fear. For to distribute the mysteries of salvation to the general public and to receive all persons equally, including those whose life is not adorned with purity and those who have not been examined and prepared to make reasonable use of the mysteries, is like pouring one's most precious ointment into a filthy vessel.
The Medieval Church1 voice
More precious than all riches, etc. Not only the riches of the earth but also the riches of heaven, indeed even the visions of angels, the brightness of this wisdom is preferred. Hence, the prophet also says: For what have I in heaven, and what …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
It is not only a surer, but a more gainful merchandise to trade for wisdom, for Christ, and grace, and spiritual blessings, than for silver, and gold, and rubies.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Rubies - The פנינים pânı̂ynı̂ym were among the costly articles of traffic, and red or rose-colored Lam 4:7. The last fact has led some to identify them with coral, or (as in the King James Version) with “rubies.” Most commentators, however, have identified them with pearls, which may connect this passage with Mat 7:6; Mat 13:45. The words of the promise here are almost the echo of 1Ki 3:11-13.
She is more precious than rubies - מפנינים mippeninim. The word principally means pearls, but may be taken for precious stones in general. The root is פנה panah, he looked, beheld; and as it gives the idea of the eye always being turned towards the observer, Mr. Parkhurst thinks that it means the loadstone; see the note on Job 28:18 (note), where this subject is considered at large. If the oriental ruby, or any other precious stone, be intended here, the word may refer to their being cut and polished, so that they present different faces, and reflect the light to you in whatever direction you may look at them. All the things thou canst desire - Superior to every thing that can be an object of desire here below. But who believes this?
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
and all your desirable things Heb. חפציך all that you desire.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
in its right hand Those who make the right use of it and engage in it for its own sake will have length of days and surely riches and honor, but those who make the wrong [lit.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יְקָ֣רָה | yekarah | [is] precious | H3368 → | 36 times |
| הִ֭יא | hi' | she | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| מִפְּנִינִ֑ים | mipeniyim | more than jewels | H6443 → | 6 times |
| וְכָל־ | vekhol | and all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| חֲ֝פָצֶ֗יךָ | chafatzeikha | pleasures your | H2656 → | 39 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִֽשְׁווּ־ | yishvu- | they compare | H7737 → | 21 times |
| בָֽהּ׃ | vah | with her |
יְקָ֣רָה[is] precious
yekarahH3368 →36 times
הִ֭יאshe
hi'H1931 →1879 times
מִפְּנִינִ֑יםmore than jewels
mipeniyimH6443 →6 times
וְכָל־and all
vekholH3605 →5413 times
חֲ֝פָצֶ֗יךָpleasures your
chafatzeikhaH2656 →39 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יִֽשְׁווּ־they compare
yishvu-H7737 →21 times
בָֽהּ׃with her
vah
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 8:18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 4:17–18
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
- 1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
- 1 Peter 1:5–7
who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Matthew 5:11–12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
- Acts 20:24
But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good…
- 2 Corinthians 4:17–18
Through
Proverbs 31:10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:14
Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
- Proverbs 12:4
A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.
- Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
- Proverbs 19:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Basil of Caesarea, HOMILY ON THE BEGINNING OF PROVERBS 4; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.