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Selected Verse: Proverbs 4:7 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Pr 4:7 |
Strong Concordance |
Wisdom [02451] is the principal thing [07225]; therefore get [07069] wisdom [02451]: and with all thy getting [07075] get understanding [0998]. |
| |
King James |
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. |
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 Job 28:28).
getting--or possession; a desire for wisdom is wise. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
Referring to Pro 4:5, the father further explains that wisdom begins with the striving after it, and that this striving is itself its fundamental beginning:
7 The beginning of wisdom is "Get wisdom,"
And with [um, at the price of] all thou hast gotten get understanding,
8 Esteem her, so shall she lift thee up;
She will bring thee honour if thou dost embrace her.
9 She will put on thine head a graceful garland,
She will bestow upon thee a glorious diadem.
In the motto of the book, Pro 1:7, the author would say that the fear of Jahve is that from which all wisdom takes its origin. יראת יהוה (Pro 1:7) is the subject, and as such it stands foremost. Here he means to say what the beginning of wisdom consists in. ראשׁית חכמה is the subject, and stands forth as such. The predicate may also be read קנה־חכמה (= קנות), after Pro 16:16. The beginning of wisdom is (consists in) the getting of wisdom; but the imperative קנה, which also Aq., Sym., Theod. (κτῆσαι), Jerome, Syr., Targ. express (the lxx leaves Pro 4:7 untranslated), is supported by 7b. Hitzig, after Mercier, De Dieu, and Dderlein, translates the verse thus: "the highest thing is wisdom; get wisdom," which Zckler approves of; but the reasons which determine him to this rendering are subtleties: if the author had wished himself to be so understood, he ought at least to have written the words ראשׁית החכמה. But ראשׁית חכמה is a genitive of relation, as is to be expected from the relativity of the idea ראשׁית, and his intention is to say that the beginning of wisdom consists in the proposition קנה חכמה (cf. the similar formula, Ecc 12:13); this proposition is truly the lapis philosophorum, it contains all that is necessary in order to becoming wise. Therefore the Greek σοφία called itself modestly φιλοσοφία; for ἀρχὴ σὐτῆς the Book of Wisdom has, Pro 6:18, ἡ ἀληθεστάτη παιδείας ἐπιθυμία. In 7b the proposition is expressed which contains the specificum helping to wisdom. The בּ denotes price: give all for wisdom (Mat 13:46, Mat 13:44); no price is too high, no sacrifice too great for it. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| With all - Even with the price of all. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Wisdom is the principal thing - ראשית חכמה reshith chochmah, "wisdom is the principle." It is the punctum saliens in all religion to know the true God, and what he requires of man, and for what he has made man; and to this must be added, under the Christian dispensation, to know Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, and for what end He was sent, the necessity of his being sent, and the nature of that salvation which he has bought by his own blood.
Get wisdom - Consider this as thy chief gain; that in reference to which all thy wisdom, knowledge, and endeavors should be directed.
And with all thy getting - Let this be thy chief property. While thou art passing through things temporal, do not lose those things which are eternal; and, while diligent in business, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Get understanding - Do not be contented with the lessons of wisdom merely; do not be satisfied with having a sound religious creed; devils believe and tremble; but see that thou properly comprehend all that thou hast learnt; and see that thou rightly apply all that thou hast been taught.
Wisdom prescribes the best end, and the means best calculated for its attainment. Understanding directs to the ways, times, places, and opportunities of practicing the lessons of wisdom. Wisdom points out the thing requisite; understanding sees to the accomplishment and attainment. Wisdom sees; but understanding feels. One discovers, the other possesses.
Coverdale translates this whole verse in a very remarkable manner: "The chefe poynte of wyssdome is, that thou be wyllynge to opteyne wyssdome; and before all thy goodes to get the understandynge." This is paraphrase, not translation. In this version paraphrase abounds.
The translation in my old MS. Bible is very simple: Begynnynge of wisdam, welle thou wisdom; in al thi wisdam, and in al thi possioun, purchas prudence. He is already wise who seeks wisdom; and he is wise who knows its value, seeks to possess it. The whole of this verse is wanting in the Arabic, and in the best copies of the Septuagint.
Instead of קנה חכמה keneh chochmah, get wisdom, the Complutensian Polyglot has קנה בינה keneh binah, get understanding; so that in it the verse stands, "Wisdom is the principle, get understanding; and in all this getting, get understanding." This is not an error either of the scribe, or of the press, for it is supported by seven of the MSS. of Kennicott and De Rossi.
The Complutensian, Antwerp, and Paris Polyglots have the seventh verse in the Greek text; but the two latter, in general, copy the former. |
28 And unto man [0120] he said [0559], Behold, the fear [03374] of the Lord [0136], that is wisdom [02451]; and to depart [05493] from evil [07451] is understanding [0998].
44 Again [3825], the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772] is [2076] like [3664] unto treasure [2344] hid [2928] in [1722] a field [68]; the which [3739] when a man [444] hath found [2147], he hideth [2928], and [2532] for [575] joy [5479] thereof [846] goeth [5217] and [2532] selleth [4453] all [3956] that [3745] he hath [2192], and [2532] buyeth [59] that [1565] field [68].
46 Who [3739], when he had found [2147] one [1520] pearl [3135] of great price [4186], went [565] and sold [4097] all [3956] that [3745] he had [2192], and [2532] bought [59] it [846].
18 An heart [03820] that deviseth [02790] wicked [0205] imaginations [04284], feet [07272] that be swift [04116] in running [07323] to mischief [07451],
13 Let us hear [08085] the conclusion [05490] of the whole matter [01697]: Fear [03372] God [0430], and keep [08104] his commandments [04687]: for this is the whole duty of man [0120].
7 Wisdom [02451] is the principal thing [07225]; therefore get [07069] wisdom [02451]: and with all thy getting [07075] get understanding [0998].
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]!
7 The fear [03374] of the LORD [03068] is the beginning [07225] of knowledge [01847]: but fools [0191] despise [0936] wisdom [02451] and instruction [04148].
7 The fear [03374] of the LORD [03068] is the beginning [07225] of knowledge [01847]: but fools [0191] despise [0936] wisdom [02451] and instruction [04148].
5 Get [07069] wisdom [02451], get [07069] understanding [0998]: forget [07911] it not; neither decline [05186] from the words [0561] of my mouth [06310].