Proverbs 3:14
in Proverbs 3for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.
KJV
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
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This verse in Proverbs 3
Commentary
9 notes on this verseFor the merchandise - סחר sachar, the traffic, the trade that is carried on by going through countries and provinces with such articles as they could carry on the backs of camels, etc.; from סחר sachar, to go about, traverse. Chaffarynge; Old MS. Bible. And the gain thereof - תבואתה tebuathah, its produce; what is gained by the articles after all expenses are paid.
This site's exposition
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom
on Proverbs 3:13-15
“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding” opens a hymn to wisdom, the praise chapter 8 gives at greater length. The words “she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold” price wisdom against the most stable forms of wealth.
This site's exposition
she is more profitable than silver
Profitable translates the language of trade, the merchant's traffic carried across countries on camels, as Adam Clarke explains it. Gain is the yield left after every cost is paid. Wisdom returns more than silver or gold.
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 Church2 voices
Its first and purest fruits. If, according to Ecclesiasticus, the root of wisdom is to fear God, what are the fruits of wisdom except to see God? And these are the first and purest, either because God, who is from the beginning, is seen, and …
Better is her acquisition, etc. Let no one fear the correction of poverty, whoever has acquired the wealth of wisdom, because the celestial gift infinitely surpasses earthly treasures.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver,....
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.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Compare Pro 2:4. “Fine gold” is apparently a technical word of that commerce, the native gold in the nugget or the dust.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Fortunate is the man who has found wisdom and a man who gives forth discernment One who learned wisdom until he is so accustomed to it that he can express it with his mouth.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
and all your desirable things Heb. חפציך all that you desire.
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
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| ט֣וֹב | tov | [is] good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| סַ֭חְרָהּ | sachrah | profit her | H5504 → | 7 times |
| מִסְּחַר־ | misechar- | more than [the] profit of | H5504 → | 7 times |
| כָּ֑סֶף | kasef | silver | H3701 → | 403 times |
| וּ֝מֵחָר֗וּץ | umecharutz | and more than gold | H2742 → | 19 times |
| תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃ | tevuatah | gain her | H8393 → | 42 times |
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
ט֣וֹב[is] good
tovH2896 →538 times
סַ֭חְרָהּprofit her
sachrahH5504 →7 times
מִסְּחַר־more than [the] profit of
misechar-H5504 →7 times
כָּ֑סֶףsilver
kasefH3701 →403 times
וּ֝מֵחָר֗וּץand more than gold
umecharutzH2742 →19 times
תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃gain her
tevuatahH8393 →42 times
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
Revelation 3:18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to…
it leads to
- Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
- 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.
- Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!
- Revelation 19:8
She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
- Malachi 3:3
And 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…
- Revelation 16:15
Through
Psalms 119:162I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.
- Psalms 119:72
The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
- Jeremiah 15:16
Through
Proverbs 16:16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
it leads to
- Proverbs 8:10–11
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
- Proverbs 8:10–11
Where this verse is studied
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; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.