Proverbs 17:3
WEB
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.
BSB
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
KJV
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H4715
n-m — crucible
Derivation: from 6884;
a crucible
KJV: fining pot.
n.[m.] — crucible
מַצְרֵף n.[m.] crucible (prop. place or instrument of refining)
H3701
n-m — silver, pale, money
Derivation: from 3700;
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
KJV: money, price, silver(-ling).
n.m — silver
כֶּ֫סֶף 402 n.m. silver, money
1. = silver ore, raw silver
2. silver as bright, shining
3. silver, as wealth
4. silver as spoil of war
5. silver as merchandise
6. silver as costly gift
7. silver as material
8. silver as measure of weight and value
9. among vbs. and phr.
H3564
n-m — pot, furnace
Derivation: from an unused root meaning properly, to dig through;
a pot or furnace (as if excavated)
KJV: furnace. Compare 3600.
n.[m.] — smelting-pot
כּוּר n.[m.] smelting-pot or furnace
H2091
n-m — gold, something gold-colored, oil, clear sky
Derivation: from an unused root meaning to shimmer;
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky
KJV: gold(-en), fair weather.
n.m — gold
זָהָב 385 n.m. gold
1. = gold-ore, gold in raw state
2. gold as wealth
3. gold as spoil of war
4. gold as merchandise
5. gold as costly gift
6. gold as material
7. gold described by its source
8. gold defined by var. adj. and pts.
9. as measure of weight and value
10. = golden oil, from colour
11. often named with
12. the chief vbs. used
H974
v — test, investigate
Derivation: a primitive root;
to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate
KJV: examine, prove, tempt, try (trial).
vb — examine
[בָּחַן] vb. examine, try
Qal
1. examine, scrutinize, try
2. prove, test, try
Niph. to be tried, proved
Pu. the trial has been made
H3826
n-f — heart
Derivation: feminine of 3820;
the heart
KJV: heart.
H3068
n-pr — Existent, Jeho-vah
Derivation: from 1961;
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
n.pr.dei — God
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
I. יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
II.
1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
2. the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
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Verse 3
Proverbs 17:3
Note, 1. The hearts of the children of men are subject, not only to God's view, but to his judgment: As the fining-pot is for silver, both to prove it and to improve it so the Lord tries the hearts; he searches whether they are standard or no, and those that are he refines and makes purer, Jer 17:10. God tries the heart by affliction (Psa 66:10, Psa 66:11), and often chooses his people in that furnace (Isa 48:10) and makes them choice. 2. It is God only that tries the hearts. Men may try their silver and gold with the fining-pot and the furnace, but they have no such way of trying one another's hearts; God only does that, who is both the searcher and the sovereign of the heart.
Cross-references: Jer 17:10 · Ps 66:10 · Ps 66:11 · Isa 48:10