Proverbs 4 · Verse 7

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Proverbs 4:7, King James Version

Proverbs 4:7 in other translations

BSB	Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
WEB	Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
ASV	Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
YLT	The first thing is wisdom--get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
DARBY	The beginning of wisdom is, Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence.
BBE	The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.
Webster	Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

What does Proverbs 4:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

7. (Compare Job 28:28). getting--or possession; a desire for wisdom is wise.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 7 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 4:1-13

We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get this than the…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 4:1-13 →

Proverbs 4:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

רֵאשִׁ֣יתre.Shit[is] firstH7225

חָ֭כְמָהchokh.mahwisdomH2451

קְנֵ֣הke.NehacquireH7069

חָכְמָ֑הchokh.mahwisdomH2451

וּבְכָל\־u.ve.Khol-and by allH3605

קִ֝נְיָנְךָ֗kin.ya.ne.chaacquisition yourH7075

קְנֵ֣הke.NehacquireH7069

בִינָֽה\׃vi.NahunderstandingH998

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 4:7

Ecclesiastes 7:12
For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Proverbs 23:23
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Proverbs 16:16
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Mark 8:36-37
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 13:44-46
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Psalms 119:104
Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Proverbs 21:6
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
Psalms 49:16-20
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. …
Luke 12:20
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Wisdom is.
Ec 7:12; 9:16-18; Mt 13:44-46; Lu 10:42; Php 3:8
with.
16:16; 21:6; Ps 49:16-20; Ec 2:4-9; 4:8; Mr 8:36,37; Lu 12:20
get understanding.
Ps 119:104

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Proverbs 4:6
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:8
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

Read all of Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Sabiduría ante todo: adquiere sabiduría: y ante toda tu posesión adquiere inteligencia.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Le commencement de la sagesse, c’est: Acquiers la sagesse, et, au prix de toutes tes acquisitions, acquiers l’intelligence.
German Elberfelder 1871	Der Weisheit Anfang ist: Erwirb Weisheit; und um alles, was du erworben hast, erwirb Verstand.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Principium sapientiæ: posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam.