Proverbs 8 · Verse 17

Proverbs 8:17

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Proverbs 8:17, King James Version

Proverbs 8:17 in other translations

BSBI love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
WEBI love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
ASVI love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.
YLTI love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly do find me.
DARBYI love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.
BBEThose who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.
WebsterI love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

What does Proverbs 8:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. early--or, "diligently," which may include the usual sense of early in life.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 I love them that love me - Wisdom shows itself; teaches man the knowledge of himself; shows him also the will of God concerning him; manifests the snares and dangers of life, the allurements and unsatisfactory nature of all sensual and sinful pleasures, the blessedness of true religion, and the solid happiness which an upright soul derives from the peace and approbation of its Maker. If, then, the heart embraces this wisdom, follows this Divine teaching, and gives itself to God, his love will be shed abroad in it by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Thus we love God because he hath first loved us and the more we love him, the more we shall feel of his love, which will enable us to love him yet more and more; and thus we may go on increasing to eternity. Blessed be God! And those that seek me early shall find me - Not merely betimes in the morning, though he who does so shall find it greatly to his advantage; (see on Psa 4:1-8 (note)); but early in life - in youth, and as near as possible to the first dawn of reason. To the young this gracious promise is particularly made: if they seek, they shall find. Others, who are old, may seek and find; but never to such advantage as they would have done, had they sought early. Youth is the time of advantage in every respect: it is the time of learning, the time of discipline; the time of improvement, the time of acquiring useful, solid, and gracious habits. As the first-fruits always belong to God, it is God's time; the time in which he is peculiarly gracious; and in which, to sincere youthful seekers, he pours out his benefits with great profusion. "They that seek me early shall find me." Hear, ye young, and ye little ones! God offers himself now to you, with all his treasures of grace and glory. Thank him for his ineffable mercy, and embrace it without delay.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 8:12-21

Wisdom, here is Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word, and Christ in the heart; not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us. All prudence and skill are from the Lord. Through the redemption of Christ's precious blood, the riches of his grace abound in all wisdom and prudence. Man found out many inventions for ruin; God found one for our recovery. He…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 8:12-21 →

Proverbs 8:17 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.

אֲ֭נִי'A.niIH589
אֹהֲבַ֣י'o.ha.vei.i[those who] love meH157
אֵהָ֑ב'e.HavI loveH157
וּ֝מְשַׁחֲרַ֗יu.me.sha.cha.Raiand [those who] earnestly seek meH7836
יִמְצָאֻֽנְנִי\׃yim.tza.'U.nithey find meH4672

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

Cross references for Proverbs 8:17

  • John 14:23

    Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

  • John 14:21

    He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

  • Psalms 91:14

    Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

  • Isaiah 55:6

    Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

  • 1 John 4:19

    We love him, because he first loved us.

  • 1 Samuel 2:30

    Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

  • Matthew 7:7-8

    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

  • Matthew 6:33

    But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

  • Isaiah 45:19

    I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • John 16:27

    For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

  • Proverbs 1:28

    Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I love.
1Sa 2:30; Ps 91:14; Joh 14:21,23; 16:27; 1Jo 4:19
those.
Ec 12:1; Isa 45:19; 55:6; Mt 6:33; 7:7,8; Mr 10:14; Jas 1:5

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

Context

  • Proverbs 8:16

    By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

  • Proverbs 8:17

    I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

  • Proverbs 8:18

    Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

Read all of Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo amo á los que me aman; y me hallan los que madrugando me buscan.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		J’aime ceux qui m’aiment; et ceux qui me recherchent me trouveront.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich liebe, die mich lieben; und die mich früh suchen, werden mich finden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego diligentes me diligo, et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me.