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Proverbs 27:21

in Proverbs 27

A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is tried by his praise.

KJV

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

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This verse in Proverbs 27

Commentary

6 notes on this verse
So is ... - Better, So let a man be to his praise, let him purify it from all the alloy of flattery and baseness with which it is too probably mixed up.

This site's exposition

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied

on Proverbs 27:20-22

"Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied" names the grave's appetite and human appetite in one figure. Verse 21 repeats the refining figure of 17:3, since "a man is tested by the praise accorded him." Verse 22 ends on folly's stubbornness.

This site's exposition

A crucible for silver

Praise is the fire here. The crucible and furnace show what metal is made of, and praise shows what a man is. Albert Barnes reads the line as a charge, that a man should purify his praise of the flattery mixed into it.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Praise tests character. a man to his praise--according to his praise, as he bears it. Thus vain men seek it, weak men are inflated by it, wise men disregard it, &c.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

As the fining pot for silver - As silver and gold are tried by the art of the refiner, so is a man’s heart by the praise he receives. If he feel it not, he deserves it; if he be puffed up by it, he is worthless.

The words behind it

7 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • מַצְרֵ֣ףa crucible

    matzrefH4715 →

  • לַ֭כֶּסֶףfor <the> silver

    lakesefH3701 →403 times

  • וְכ֣וּרand a smelting furnace

    vekhurH3564 →

  • לַזָּהָ֑בfor <the> gold

    lazahavH2091 →389 times

  • וְ֝אִ֗ישׁand a person

    veishH376 →1663 times

  • לְפִ֣יto [the] mouth of

    lefiH6310 →498 times

  • מַהֲלָלֽוֹ׃praise his

    mahalaloH4110 →

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

15 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Proverbs 17:3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.9 worksZechariah 13:9This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”5 worksPsalms 66:10For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.4 works1 Samuel 25:33Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.4 works1 Peter 1:7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.3 worksMalachi 3:3And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.3 works
The other 9 cross-references, with their words ▾
Psalms 12:6The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.2 works1 Samuel 18:7–8And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”2 works1 Samuel 18:15–16When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.2 works2 Samuel 14:25Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.2 works1 Samuel 18:30Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.2 works2 Samuel 15:6–12Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.2 works1 Peter 4:12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.2 works2 Samuel 14:17And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’”2 worksJob 28:1“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Zechariah 13:9

    This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They…

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 48:10

      See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

      Reached by 4 separate paths from here.

    • Psalms 50:15

      Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

    • Jeremiah 29:11–12

      For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.

    • Acts 2:21

      And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

    • Isaiah 65:23–24

      They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to disaster; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD—they and their descendants with them.

  • Through

    1 Peter 1:7

    so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

    it leads to

    • Job 23:10

      Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

    • James 1:12

      Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

    • 1 Peter 4:12

      Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Where this verse is studied

About Proverbs

The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Proverbs: the study guide →Read Proverbs 27 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Proverbs 27 →