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Selected Verse: Proverbs 8:10 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Pr 8:10	Strong Concordance	Receive [03947] my instruction [04148], and not silver [03701]; and knowledge [01847] rather than choice [0977] gold [02742].
	King James	Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
not silver--preferable to it, so last clause implies comparison.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

not silver--preferable to it, so last clause implies comparison.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Her self-commendation is continued in the resumed address: 10 "Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold! 11 For wisdom is better than corals, And all precious jewels do not equal her. 12 I, Wisdom, inhabit prudence, And the knowledge of right counsels is attainable by me." Instead of ולא־כּסף influenced by קחוּ, is ואל־כסף with תּקחוּ to be supplied; besides, with most Codd. and older editions, we are to accentuate קחוּ מוּסרי with the erasure of the Makkeph. "Such negations and prohibitions," Fleischer remarks, "are to be understood comparatively: instead of acquiring silver, rather acquire wisdom. Similar is the old Arabic 'l-nâr w-l'-'l-'âr, the fire, and not the disgrace! Also among the modern Arabic proverbs collected by Burckhardt, many have this form, e.g., No. 34, alḥajamat balafas wala alḥajat alanas, Better to let oneself be cut with the axe then to beg for the favour of another" 10b is to be translated, with Jerome, Kimchi, and others: and knowledge is more precious than fine gold (נבחר, neut.: auro pretiosius); and in view of Pro 16:16, this construction appears to be intended. But Fleischer has quite correctly affirmed that this assertatory clause is unsuitably placed as a parallel clause over against the preceding imperative clause, and, what is yet more important, that then Pro 8:11 would repeat idem per idem in a tautological manner. We therefore, after the Aramaic and Greek translators, take כסף נבחר together here as well as at Pro 8:19, inasmuch as we carry forward the קחו: et scientiam prae auro lectissimo, which is also according to the accentuation. Equally pregnant is the מן in מחרוּץ of the passage Pro 3:14-15, which is here varied. Pro 8:12 Ver. 12 follows Pro 8:11 = Pro 3:15 as a justification of this estimating of wisdom above all else in worth. Regarding אני with Gaja, vid., the rule which the accentuation of this word in the three so-called metrical books follows in Merx' Archiv, 1868, p. 203 (cf. Baer's Torath Emeth, p. 40). We translate: ego sapientia involo sollertiam, for the verb שׁכן is construed with the accusative of the object, Pro 2:21; Pro 10:30; 37:3 (cf. גוּר, Psa 5:5), as well as with ב, Gen 26:2, Ps. 69:37. Wisdom inhabits prudence, has settled down, as it were, and taken up her residence in it, is at home in its whole sphere, and rules it. Bertheau not unsuitably compares οἰκῶν with μόνος ἔχων, Ti1 6:16. Regarding מזמּות, vid., Pro 1:4; Pro 5:2. It denotes well-considered, carefully thought out designs, plans, conclusions, and דּעת is here the knowledge that is so potent. This intellectual power is nothing beyond wisdom, it is in her possession on every occasion; she strives after it not in vain, her knowledge is defined according to her wish. Wisdom describes herself here personally with regard to that which she bestows on men who receive her.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Her self-commendation is continued in the resumed address:

10 "Receive my instruction, and not silver,

And knowledge rather than choice gold!

11 For wisdom is better than corals,

And all precious jewels do not equal her.

12 I, Wisdom, inhabit prudence,

And the knowledge of right counsels is attainable by me."

Instead of ולא־כּסף influenced by קחוּ, is ואל־כסף with תּקחוּ to be supplied; besides, with most Codd. and older editions, we are to accentuate קחוּ מוּסרי with the erasure of the Makkeph. "Such negations and prohibitions," Fleischer remarks, "are to be understood comparatively: instead of acquiring silver, rather acquire wisdom. Similar is the old Arabic 'l-nâr w-l'-'l-'âr, the fire, and not the disgrace! Also among the modern Arabic proverbs collected by Burckhardt, many have this form, e.g., No. 34, alḥajamat balafas wala alḥajat alanas, Better to let oneself be cut with the axe then to beg for the favour of another" 10b is to be translated, with Jerome, Kimchi, and others: and knowledge is more precious than fine gold (נבחר, neut.: auro pretiosius); and in view of Pro 16:16, this construction appears to be intended. But Fleischer has quite correctly affirmed that this assertatory clause is unsuitably placed as a parallel clause over against the preceding imperative clause, and, what is yet more important, that then Pro 8:11 would repeat idem per idem in a tautological manner. We therefore, after the Aramaic and Greek translators, take כסף נבחר together here as well as at Pro 8:19, inasmuch as we carry forward the קחו: et scientiam prae auro lectissimo, which is also according to the accentuation. Equally pregnant is the מן in מחרוּץ of the passage Pro 3:14-15, which is here varied.

Pro 8:12

Ver. 12 follows Pro 8:11 = Pro 3:15 as a justification of this estimating of wisdom above all else in worth. Regarding אני with Gaja, vid., the rule which the accentuation of this word in the three so-called metrical books follows in Merx' Archiv, 1868, p. 203 (cf. Baer's Torath Emeth, p. 40). We translate: ego sapientia involo sollertiam, for the verb שׁכן is construed with the accusative of the object, Pro 2:21; Pro 10:30; 37:3 (cf. גוּר, Psa 5:5), as well as with ב, Gen 26:2, Ps. 69:37. Wisdom inhabits prudence, has settled down, as it were, and taken up her residence in it, is at home in its whole sphere, and rules it. Bertheau not unsuitably compares οἰκῶν with μόνος ἔχων, Ti1 6:16. Regarding מזמּות, vid., Pro 1:4; Pro 5:2. It denotes well-considered, carefully thought out designs, plans, conclusions, and דּעת is here the knowledge that is so potent. This intellectual power is nothing beyond wisdom, it is in her possession on every occasion; she strives after it not in vain, her knowledge is defined according to her wish. Wisdom describes herself here personally with regard to that which she bestows on men who receive her.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And not silver - Rather than silver.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Receive my instruction, and not silver - A Hebrew idiom; receive my instruction in preference to silver.

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² That thou mayest regard [08104] discretion [04209], and that thy lips [08193] may keep [05341] knowledge [01847].

⁴ To give [05414] subtilty [06195] to the simple [06612], to the young man [05288] knowledge [01847] and discretion [04209].

¹⁶ Who [3588] only [3441] hath [2192] immortality [110], dwelling [3611] in the light [5457] which no man [3762] can approach unto [676]; whom [3739] no man [444] hath seen [1492], nor [3761] can [1410] see [1492]: to whom [3739] be honour [5092] and [2532] power [2904] everlasting [166]. Amen [281].

² And the LORD [03068] appeared [07200] unto him, and said [0559], Go not down [03381] into Egypt [04714]; dwell [07931] in the land [0776] which I shall tell [0559] thee of:

⁵ The foolish [01984] shall not stand [03320] in thy sight [05869]: thou hatest [08130] all workers [06466] of iniquity [0205].

³⁰ The righteous [06662] shall never [05769] be removed [04131]: but the wicked [07563] shall not inhabit [07931] the earth [0776].

²¹ For the upright [03477] shall dwell [07931] in the land [0776], and the perfect [08549] shall remain [03498] in it.

¹⁵ She is more precious [03368] than rubies [06443]: and all the things thou canst desire [02656] are not to be compared [07737] unto her.

¹¹ For wisdom [02451] is better [02896] than rubies [06443]; and all the things that may be desired [02656] are not to be compared [07737] to it.

¹² I wisdom [02451] dwell [07931] with prudence [06195], and find out [04672] knowledge [01847] of witty inventions [04209].

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].
¹⁵ She is more precious [03368] than rubies [06443]: and all the things thou canst desire [02656] are not to be compared [07737] unto her.

¹⁹ My fruit [06529] is better [02896] than gold [02742], yea, than fine gold [06337]; and my revenue [08393] than choice [0977] silver [03701].

¹¹ For wisdom [02451] is better [02896] than rubies [06443]; and all the things that may be desired [02656] are not to be compared [07737] to it.

¹⁶ 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]!