Proverbs 8:11
in Proverbs 8For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.
KJV
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
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This verse in Proverbs 8
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThe redeemer is the eternal Word and wisdom, the Logos. He is the Wisdom that speaks to the children of men in the former part of the chapter. All divine revelation passes through his hand, and centres in him; but of him as the personal Wisdom, the second person in the Godhead, in the judgment of many of the ancients, Solomon here speaks,
This site's exposition
for I speak of noble things
on Proverbs 8:6-11
Wisdom's credentials are moral before they are intellectual: “none are crooked or perverse”. “They are all plain to the discerning,” so any difficulty lies in the hearer. The price comparison, “my instruction instead of silver” and wisdom “more precious than rubies,” repeats the appraisal of 3:14-15.
This site's exposition
wisdom is more precious than rubies
The line repeats Proverbs 3:15 almost word for word, now spoken by Wisdom herself. Earlier the father praised her to his son. Here Wisdom names her own price to the sons of men.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
It is written that "wisdom is better than stones of costly price; and all precious things are not comparable to her." For the wisdom that comes from above, from God, is an incomparable blessing. When we attain to it by means of the holy Scripture, which is inspired of God, and gain the divine light to dwell in our minds, we then advance without wandering, and we come toward whatever is useful for our spiritual profit. Come, therefore, and let us now also scrupulously examine the meaning of the Gospel lessons.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. Wisdom here is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word and Christ in the heart, not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:32w-of-69
For wisdom is better than rubies,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Wisdom is better than rubies - See on Pro 3:15 (note).
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
I dwelt [beside] cunning Beside cunning, for since a man has learned Torah, cunning about every matter enters into him.
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. 4 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
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| טוֹבָ֣ה | tovah | [is] good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| חָ֭כְמָה | chokhmah | wisdom | H2451 → | 153 times |
| מִפְּנִינִ֑ים | mipeninim | more than jewels | H6443 → | 6 times |
| וְכָל־ | vekhol | and all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| חֲ֝פָצִ֗ים | chafatzim | pleasures | H2656 → | 39 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִֽשְׁווּ־ | yishvu- | they compare | H7737 → | 21 times |
| בָֽהּ׃ | vah | with it |
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
טוֹבָ֣ה[is] good
tovahH2896 →538 times
חָ֭כְמָהwisdom
chokhmahH2451 →153 times
מִפְּנִינִ֑יםmore than jewels
mipeninimH6443 →6 times
וְכָל־and all
vekholH3605 →5413 times
חֲ֝פָצִ֗יםpleasures
chafatzimH2656 →39 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יִֽשְׁווּ־they compare
yishvu-H7737 →21 times
בָֽהּ׃with it
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
Psalms 19:10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
it leads to
- Psalms 119:72
The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 16:16
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth!
- Psalms 119:72
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.
- Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Proverbs 8:19
My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
- Luke 12:21
This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:12
For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
- Proverbs 8:10–11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 133; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.