Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, New Living Translation Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. English Standard Version if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, Berean Standard Bible if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, King James Bible If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; New King James Version If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; New American Standard Bible If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; NASB 1995 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; NASB 1977 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Legacy Standard Bible If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Amplified Bible If you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver And search for her as you would hidden treasures; Christian Standard Bible if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, Holman Christian Standard Bible if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, American Standard Version If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures: Contemporary English Version Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. English Revised Version If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; GOD'S WORD® Translation if you search for wisdom as if it were money and hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure, Good News Translation Look for it as hard as you would for silver or some hidden treasure. International Standard Version if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, NET Bible if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure, New Heart English Bible If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: Webster's Bible Translation If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleif you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, World English Bible if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIf you seek her as silver, "" And search for her as hid treasures, Young's Literal Translation If thou dost seek her as silver, And as hid treasures searchest for her, Smith's Literal Translation If thou wilt seek her as silver, and dig for her as hidden treasure; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure: Catholic Public Domain Version if you will seek her like money, and dig for her as if for treasure, New American Bible If you seek her like silver, and like hidden treasures search her out, New Revised Standard Version if you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures— Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf you seek it as silver, and search for it as for hidden treasure; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you will seek it as silver and you will search it out as treasure OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures; Brenton Septuagint Translation and if thou shalt seek it as silver, and search diligently for it as for treasures; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Benefits of Wisdom…3if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, 4if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, 5then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.… Cross References Matthew 13:44-46 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. / Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. / When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it. James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Job 28:12-28 But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell? / No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. / The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’ ... Luke 11:9-10 So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Psalm 119:72 The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. 1 Kings 3:9-12 Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” / Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. / So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice— ... Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Psalm 19:10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Romans 11:33 O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! Psalm 119:127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold. Philippians 3:8 More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ Treasury of Scripture If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; thou Proverbs 3:14,15 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold… Proverbs 8:18,19 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness… Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! searchest Job 28:12-20 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? … Ecclesiastes 4:8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. Luke 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. Jump to Previous Hid Hidden Search Searchest Searching Seek Seekest Silver Stored-Up Treasure Treasures WealthJump to Next Hid Hidden Search Searchest Searching Seek Seekest Silver Stored-Up Treasure Treasures WealthProverbs 2 1. wisdom promises godliness to her children10. and safety from evil company 20. and direction in good ways if you seek it like silver The pursuit of wisdom is likened to the search for silver, a precious metal highly valued in ancient times. Silver mining required significant effort, patience, and skill, reflecting the diligence needed to acquire wisdom. In biblical times, silver was used as currency and a symbol of wealth and prosperity (Genesis 13:2). The comparison suggests that wisdom is not easily obtained but is worth the effort due to its immense value. This pursuit is echoed in Job 28:1-11, where the search for wisdom is compared to mining for precious metals. The diligent search for wisdom is a recurring theme in Proverbs, emphasizing its importance and the effort required to attain it. and search it out like hidden treasure Persons / Places / Events 1. Solomon- Traditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was known for his wisdom, which he received from God. His writings often focus on the pursuit of wisdom and understanding. 2. Israel - The nation to whom the Proverbs were originally addressed. The cultural and historical context of Israel provides a backdrop for understanding the value placed on wisdom. 3. Wisdom - Personified throughout Proverbs, wisdom is depicted as a valuable and desirable trait, akin to a treasure that must be diligently sought. Teaching Points The Value of WisdomJust as silver and hidden treasures are valuable and worth the effort to find, so is wisdom. It requires intentional pursuit and dedication. Diligent Pursuit Seeking wisdom is not a passive endeavor. It requires active searching, akin to mining for precious metals. This involves study, prayer, and reflection. Spiritual Riches The pursuit of wisdom leads to spiritual riches that surpass material wealth. It enriches our lives and aligns us with God's will. God's Promise God promises to grant wisdom to those who earnestly seek it. This assurance should motivate us to prioritize our spiritual growth. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Proverbs 2:4?2. How can we "seek it like silver" in our daily lives? 3. What does "search for it as for hidden treasure" imply about wisdom's value? 4. How does Proverbs 2:4 connect with James 1:5 about seeking wisdom? 5. What practical steps help us diligently seek wisdom as described in Proverbs 2:4? 6. How can prioritizing wisdom change our decision-making and spiritual growth? 7. What does Proverbs 2:4 mean by "seek her as silver" in a spiritual context? 8. How does Proverbs 2:4 relate to the pursuit of wisdom in today's world? 9. Why is wisdom compared to hidden treasures in Proverbs 2:4? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 2? 11. What defines anti-intellectualism? 12. What are 'Apples of Gold in Settings of Silver'? 13. Why did Jesus advise against casting pearls before swine? 14. What is the purpose of a Bible concordance? What Does Proverbs 2:4 Mean Seek it like silverProverbs 2:4 opens with “if you seek it like silver….” Silver was hard-won wealth in Solomon’s day, requiring miners to dig, refine, and guard their prize. Scripture uses that imagery to show how wisdom must be pursued: • Active pursuit—digging, not waiting. Proverbs 8:17 says, “those who seek me diligently find me.” • Consistent effort—miners return day after day until the vein is tapped. Proverbs 4:7 urges, “Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” • Recognizing value—silver enriches; wisdom does far more. Proverbs 3:14 reminds us, “for she is more profitable than silver.” • Willing investment—time, energy, even resources devoted to study and obedience, echoing Psalm 119:72, “The law from Your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” Search it out like hidden treasure The verse continues, “…and search it out like hidden treasure.” Hidden treasure implies something both precious and concealed. Wisdom is available, yet God has chosen to let it reward the earnest: • Treasures are concealed on purpose; discovery comes to those who look. Jeremiah 29:13 promises, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” • Searching is intentional and thorough—turning over every stone. Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans who “examined the Scriptures daily.” • The joy of discovery outweighs the cost. Jesus likens the kingdom to treasure hidden in a field that a man sells all to obtain (Matthew 13:44). • Treasure brings security and future provision; wisdom guards one’s path (Proverbs 2:11) and leads to eternal reward (2 Timothy 3:15). The promised payoff Proverbs 2:5-6 completes the thought: “then you will understand the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom.” When the heart pursues wisdom as miners pursue silver, God Himself opens the storehouse: • Relationship—understanding “the fear of the LORD” draws us into reverent intimacy (Psalm 25:14). • Revelation—“knowledge of God” is unveiled, not merely learned (James 1:5). • Protection—wisdom “will guard you” from evil men and immoral paths (Proverbs 2:11-19). • Stability—building life on God’s instruction stands firm when storms hit (Matthew 7:24-25). summary Proverbs 2:4 paints wisdom as buried treasure worth every ounce of effort. Seek it with the same sweat miners give to silver, probe Scripture and life like treasure-hunters, and God promises profound understanding, protection, and fellowship with Himself. (4) If thou seekest her as silver.--That the process of mining was understood long before the time of Solomon, is proved by the remains of copper mines discovered in the peninsula of Sinai, and the gold mines in the Bisharee desert of Egypt. Rock inscriptions have been found near the former, dating from a great age, in the opinion of Lepsius from 4000 B.C. (See the article "Mines," in Smith's Dictionary of the Bible; comp. also the description in Job 28:1-11.) Silver was brought to Solomon from Arabia (2Chronicles 9:14) and Tarshish (2Chronicles 9:21), probably Tartessus, in Spain.Searchest for her as for hid treasures.--From the great insecurity of life and property in Eastern countries, the hiding of treasures in the earth has always been of frequent occurrence. It would often, no doubt, happen that the owner would die without disclosing the place of concealment to any one else, and the treasure thus be lost. Hunting after such hoards has in consequence been always of the keenest interest to Orientals, and as such furnishes the groundwork for one of our Lord's parables (Matthew 13:44). Verse 4. - If thou seekest, etc. The climax in the series of conditions is reached in this verse; and the imagery employed in both clauses indicates that the search after Wisdom is to be persevering, unrelaxing, and diligent, like the unremitting toil and labour with which men carry on mining operations. "To seek" (בָּקַשׁ, bakash) in the original is properly "to seek diligently" (piel), and is kindred to "to search" (קָפַשׂ, khaphas), which again is equivalent to "to dig" (חָפַר, khaphar), the Vulgate effodere, "to dig out." Compare the expression in Job 3:21, "And dig for it more than for hid treasures." We trace in these verbs the idea in the mind of the teacher indicated above, which finds expression also in the object of the search, the silver, in its crude state, and the hidden treasures (מַטְמֹנִים mat'monim), i.e. the treasures of gold, silver, and precious metal concealed in the earth. The comparison here made between the search for Wisdom and the search for the hidden treasures of the earth was not unfamiliar to the Hebrew mind, as it is found worked out with great beauty of detail in the twenty-eighth chapter of Job. Again, the comparison of Wisdom with things most precious in the estimation of man is natural and common, and occurs in Psalm 119:72; Job 28:15-19. The same ideas and comparisons here used are presented to us in the New Testament teaching, in our Lord's parable of the man who finds the hid treasure in the field, and, in the phraseology of St. Paul, who speaks of "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," and of "the unsearchable riches of Christ." "Divine knowledge is an inexhaustible mine of precious ore" (Wardlaw). The language of the Proverbs would receive additional three from the circumstances of the reign of Solomon, the most splendid and prosperous era in the annals of the Jewish national history, in the means taken to secure the treasures of other and distant countries; the wealth and the riches of that reign (see 2 Chronicles 9:20-22) would help to bring out the idea of the superlative value of Wisdom. In no era of the Jewish national history was there such abundance of riches, such splendid prosperity, as in the reign of Solomon, whose ships of Tarshish brought "gold and silver" (see 2 Chronicles 9:20-22), and this state of things would give point to the comparisons which the teacher uses in our text.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew ifאִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not you seek תְּבַקְשֶׁ֥נָּה (tə·ḇaq·šen·nāh) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after it like silver כַכָּ֑סֶף (ḵak·kā·sep̄) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3701: Silver, money and search it out תַּחְפְּשֶֽׂנָּה׃ (taḥ·pə·śen·nāh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 2664: To seek, to conceal oneself, mask like hidden treasure, וְֽכַמַּטְמוֹנִ֥ים (wə·ḵam·maṭ·mō·w·nîm) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4301: A secret storehouse, a secreted valuable, money Links Proverbs 2:4 NIVProverbs 2:4 NLT Proverbs 2:4 ESV Proverbs 2:4 NASB Proverbs 2:4 KJV Proverbs 2:4 BibleApps.com Proverbs 2:4 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 2:4 Chinese Bible Proverbs 2:4 French Bible Proverbs 2:4 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 2:4 If you seek her as silver (Prov. Pro Pr) |