Proverbs 17:3
Proverbs 17:3 in Multiple Translations
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.
The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
Workers put silver and gold in a very hot furnace to burn out what is impure, and Yahweh similarly examines people’s inner beings to see if they are pure.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 17:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 17:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
מַצְרֵ֣ף
לַ֭/כֶּסֶף
וְ/כ֣וּר
לַ/זָּהָ֑ב
וּ/בֹחֵ֖ן
לִבּ֣וֹת
יְהוָֽה
מַצְרֵ֣ף
mitsrêph
H4715
crucible
N-ms
לַ֭/כֶּסֶף
keçeph
H3701
silver
Prep | N-ms
וְ/כ֣וּר
kûwr
H3564
furnace
Conj | N-ms
לַ/זָּהָ֑ב
zâhâb
H2091
gold
Prep | N-ms
וּ/בֹחֵ֖ן
bâchan
H974
to test
Conj | V-Qal
לִבּ֣וֹת
libbâh
H3826
heart
N-fp
יְהוָֽה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 17:3
מַצְרֵ֣ף
mitsrêph
H4715
"crucible"
N-ms
A crucible is a vessel used to melt and purify metals, and this word appears in the Bible as a symbol of refinement. It is used in books like Ezekiel and Proverbs to describe the process of testing and purifying something. The idea is to remove impurities and make something pure.
Definition: crucible
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: fining pot. See also: Proverbs 17:3; Proverbs 27:21.
לַ֭/כֶּסֶף
keçeph
H3701
"silver"
Prep | N-ms
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Definition: : money/payment/silver 1) silver, money 1a) silver 1a1) as metal 1a2) as ornament 1a3) as colour 1b) money, shekels, talents
Usage: Occurs in 343 OT verses. KJV: money, price, silver(-ling). See also: Genesis 13:2; Numbers 22:18; 2 Chronicles 1:17.
וְ/כ֣וּר
kûwr
H3564
"furnace"
Conj | N-ms
This Hebrew word means a furnace or a pot, often used for smelting or refining metals. It's mentioned in Exodus 9:8, where God tells Moses to take ashes from the furnace. The KJV translates it as 'furnace'.
Definition: 1) furnace, forge, smelting furnace or pot v 2) (Qal) to bore, pierce, dig, hew
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: furnace. Compare H3600 (כִּיר). See also: Deuteronomy 4:20; Isaiah 48:10; Proverbs 17:3.
לַ/זָּהָ֑ב
zâhâb
H2091
"gold"
Prep | N-ms
Gold is a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant, like oil or a clear sky. It is often mentioned in the Bible as a precious resource.
Definition: 1) gold 1a) as precious metal 1b) as a measure of weight 1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)
Usage: Occurs in 336 OT verses. KJV: gold(-en), fair weather. See also: Genesis 2:11; Numbers 7:26; 1 Chronicles 28:17.
וּ/בֹחֵ֖ן
bâchan
H974
"to test"
Conj | V-Qal
To test or examine something, like gold or a person's heart, is what this word means. It appears in stories like Job's trials, where his faith is tested by God, and in Proverbs 17:3, which talks about refining silver.
Definition: 1) to examine, try, prove 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to examine, scrutinise 1a2) to test, prove, try (of gold, persons, the heart, man of God) 1b) (Niphal) to be tried, proved 1c) (Pual) to make a trial
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: examine, prove, tempt, try (trial). See also: Genesis 42:15; Psalms 81:8; Psalms 7:10.
לִבּ֣וֹת
libbâh
H3826
"heart"
N-fp
The heart is the center of a person's emotions and thoughts. In the book of 1 Samuel, it describes Hannah's heart being filled with joy and gratitude, while in the book of Job, it talks about the heart being heavy with sorrow.
Definition: heart
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: heart. See also: Psalms 7:10; Proverbs 17:3; Psalms 125:4.
יְהוָֽה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
Study Notes — Proverbs 17:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 17:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 17:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 17:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 17:3
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 17:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
- Sermons on Proverbs 17:3
Context — Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness
1Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue. 5He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 48:10 | See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 17:10 | I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve. |
| 3 | Psalms 26:2 | Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind. |
| 4 | Proverbs 27:21 | A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him. |
| 5 | 1 Chronicles 29:17 | I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You. |
| 6 | 1 Peter 1:7 | so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. |
| 7 | Psalms 66:10 | For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver. |
| 8 | Revelation 2:23 | Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. |
| 9 | Malachi 3:2–3 | But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. |
| 10 | Zechariah 13:9 | This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” |
Proverbs 17:3 Summary
This verse means that just like silver and gold are tested and purified in a crucible or furnace, our hearts are tested by God to see what's truly inside. He looks beyond what we say and do, and examines our inner thoughts and motivations, as mentioned in Jeremiah 17:10. By trusting in God's love and sovereignty, we can allow Him to refine and purify our hearts, just like a refiner purifies gold, as seen in Malachi 3:3. This process can be difficult, but it helps us become more like Jesus, as mentioned in Romans 8:29.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the LORD to be the tester of hearts?
This means that God examines our innermost thoughts, motivations, and intentions, as seen in Proverbs 17:3, and judges us based on our true character, as mentioned in Jeremiah 17:10 and Romans 8:27.
How does this verse relate to refining and purifying our hearts?
Just as silver and gold are refined in a crucible or furnace, our hearts can be purified and refined through trials and difficulties, as mentioned in James 1:2-4 and 1 Peter 1:7, with God as the ultimate tester and refiner.
What is the significance of the crucible and furnace in this verse?
The crucible and furnace represent the intense heat and pressure that are used to refine and purify metals, and similarly, God uses life's challenges to test and refine our hearts, as seen in Malachi 3:3 and Zechariah 13:9.
How can we prepare ourselves for the testing of our hearts by the LORD?
We can prepare ourselves by seeking a humble and repentant heart, as mentioned in Psalm 51:17 and 1 John 1:9, and by trusting in God's sovereignty and goodness, as seen in Psalm 23:4 and Romans 8:28.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I feel like I am being 'tested' or refined, and how can I trust God in those situations?
- How can I cultivate a heart that is pure and sincere before the Lord, and what are some practical steps I can take to achieve this?
- In what ways do I try to 'hide' or 'mask' my true thoughts and intentions from God, and how can I surrender those areas to Him?
- What are some ways that I can 'pass the test' and demonstrate a heart that is pleasing to the Lord, and what are some biblical examples of people who have done so?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 17:3
The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold,.... Refiners of silver have their fining pots, in which they purify the silver from the dross; and goldsmiths have their crucibles to melt
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 17:3
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. The fining pot (is) for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
The hearts of men cannot be searched and known by any human art, but by God only.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
Proverbs 17:3 The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.Ver. 3. The fining pot is for silver, &c.] God also hath his "fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem"; his conflatories and his crucibles wherein he will refine his, "as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried." Not as if he knew them not, till he had tried them; for he made them, and therefore cannot but know them; as artificers know the several parts and properties of their works. Sed tentat ut sciat, id est, ut scire nos faciat, saith Augustine. He therefore tries us, that he may make us know what is in us, what dross, what pure metal; and that all may see that we are such as, for a need, can "glorify him in the very fires," "that the trial of our faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though tried in the fire, may be found to praise, and honour, and glory."
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
(3) The fining pot is for silver.—See above on Proverbs 2:4. The Lord trieth the hearts.—By allowing sorrows and temptations to assail them, in order that they may come out of the trial as pure gold (Revelation 3:18; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Malachi 3:3), purged of earthly infirmities.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
Verse 3. The fining pot is for silver] When silver is mixed, or suspected to be mixed, with base metal, it must be subjected to such a test as the cupel to purify it. And gold also must be purified by the action of the fire. So God tries hearts. He sends afflictions which penetrate the soul, and give a man to see his state, so that he may apply to the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, to destroy what cannot stand the fire, to separate and burn up all the dross.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 17:3
3. trieth the hearts] q.d. man can try the precious metals, but only God the hearts (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The thought that He tries them to refine them, which is suggested here by the parallelism, is elsewhere expressed clearly. (Psalms 66:10-12; Malachi 3:3-4; 1 Peter 1:7. Comp. Sir 2:5.)
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 17:3
Wonderful as is the separation of the pure metal from the dross with which it has mingled, there is something yet more wonderful in the divine discipline which purifies the good that lies hid, like a
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 17:3
3. The fining pot — Better: The cupel for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the prover of hearts is Jehovah. He tries and purifies.
Sermons on Proverbs 17:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Jesus' First Temptation by David Servant | This sermon delves into the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, highlighting the purpose behind Jesus being led by the Spirit to face temptation by the devil. It emphasizes the |
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Purgatory Needful for Christians by Ralph Erskine | Ralph Erskine preaches about the Christian purgatory that Christ designed to bring His disciples through, which includes the purifying blood of Christ, the refining fire of the Spi |
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Tried by Fire by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink's sermon 'Tried by Fire' explores Job's journey through suffering and his ultimate faith in God's omniscience and purpose. Job initially expresses bitterness over his tri |
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Why Do the Godly Suffer? by Charles S. Price | Charles S. Price preaches about the profound purpose God has in every life, emphasizing that God molds us through various processes to be vessels fit for His use, playing symphonie |
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Some Deep Considerations Concerning the State of Israel by Isaac Penington | Greek Word Studies delves into the concept of being tested, highlighting that testing can be for good or evil depending on the intent of the tester and the response of the one bein |
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The Old Refiner by Charles E. Cowman | Charles E. Cowman preaches about God refining His people like a skilled refiner purifying precious metals in the fire, highlighting the meticulous process of removing impurities to |
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Their Dregs and Dross by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God uses severe providences and fiery trials to refine and purify His people from sin, much like how gold and silver are refined in fire. He illustrat |