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Selected Verse: Proverbs 16:16 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Pr 16:16 |
Strong Concordance |
How much better [02896] is it to get [07069] wisdom [02451] than gold [02742]! and to get [07069] understanding [0998] rather to be chosen [0977] than silver [03701]! |
|
King James |
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
(Compare Pro 3:16; Pro 4:5). |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
Five proverbs regarding wisdom, righteousness, humility, and trust in God, forming, as it were, a succession of steps, for humility is the virtue of virtues, and trust in God the condition of all salvation. Three of these proverbs have the word טוב in common.
16 To gain wisdom, how much better is it than gold;
And to attain understanding to be preferred to silver.
Commendation of the striving after wisdom (understanding) with which all wisdom begins, for one gains an intellectual possession not by inheritance, but by acquisition, Pro 4:7. A similar "parallel-comparative clause" (Fl.), with the interchange of טוב and נבחר, is Pro 22:1, but yet more so is Pro 21:3, where נבחר, as here, is neut. pred. (not, as at Pro 8:10 and elsewhere, adj.), and עשׂה, such an anomalous form of the inf. constr. as here קנה, Gesen. 75, Anm. 2; in both instances it could also be regarded as the inf. absol. (cf. Pro 25:27) (Lehrgebude, 109, Anm. 2); yet the language uses, as in the case before us, the form גּלה only with the force of an abl. of the gerund, as עשׂו occurs Gen 31:38; the inf. of verbs 'ה'ל as nom. (as here), genit. (Gen 50:20), and accus. (Psa 101:3), is always either גּלות or גּלה. The meaning is not that to gain wisdom is more valuable than gold, but that the gaining of wisdom exceeds the gaining of gold and silver, the common comparatio decurtata (cf. Job 28:18). Regarding חרוּץ, vid., at Pro 3:14. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
How much better - to get wisdom than gold? - Who believes this, though spoken by the wisest of men, under Divine inspiration? |
5 Get [07069] wisdom [02451], get [07069] understanding [0998]: forget [07911] it not; neither decline [05186] from the words [0561] of my mouth [06310].
16 Length [0753] of days [03117] is in her right hand [03225]; and in her left hand [08040] riches [06239] and honour [03519].
14 For the merchandise [05504] of it is better [02896] than the merchandise [05505] of silver [03701], and the gain [08393] thereof than fine gold [02742].
18 No mention [02142] shall be made of coral [07215], or of pearls [01378]: for the price [04901] of wisdom [02451] is above rubies [06443].
3 I will set [07896] no wicked [01100] thing [01697] before mine eyes [05869]: I hate [08130] the work [06213] of them that turn aside [07750]; it shall not cleave [01692] to me.
20 But as for you, ye thought [02803] evil [07451] against me; but God [0430] meant it [02803] unto good [02896], to [04616] bring to pass [06213], as it is this day [03117], to save [02421] much [07227] people [05971] alive [02421].
38 This twenty [06242] years [08141] have I been with thee; thy ewes [07353] and thy she goats [05795] have not cast their young [07921], and the rams [0352] of thy flock [06629] have I not eaten [0398].
27 It is not good [02896] to eat [0398] much [07235] honey [01706]: so for men to search [02714] their own glory [03519] is not glory [03519].
10 Receive [03947] my instruction [04148], and not silver [03701]; and knowledge [01847] rather than choice [0977] gold [02742].
3 To do [06213] justice [06666] and judgment [04941] is more acceptable [0977] to the LORD [03068] than sacrifice [02077].
1 A good name [08034] is rather to be chosen [0977] than great [07227] riches [06239], and loving [02896] favour [02580] rather than silver [03701] and gold [02091].
7 Wisdom [02451] is the principal thing [07225]; therefore get [07069] wisdom [02451]: and with all thy getting [07075] get understanding [0998].