Proverbs 20:15
WEB
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
BSB
There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
KJV
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H3426
prt — is, are, be
Derivation: perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist; entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb (1961);
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
KJV: (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest.
subst — being
יֵשׁ 137 subst. being, substance, existence
1. substance
2. elsewhere (prop. as a subst. in in the st. c.), it asserts existence, and so corresponds to the verb substantive, is (are, was, were, will be), lit. the being, presence of …
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
H7230
n-m — abundance
Derivation: from 7231;
abundance (in any respect)
KJV: abundance(-antly), all, × common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), × very (age).
n.m — multitude
רֹב 151 n.m. multitude, abundance, greatness
H6443
n-m — pearl
Derivation: or פָּנִי; from the same as 6434;
probably a pearl (as round)
KJV: ruby.
n.[f.]pl — corals
פְּנִינִים n.[f.]pl. corals (? as branching)
H3627
n-m — prepared, apparatus
Derivation: from 3615;
something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)
KJV: armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, × one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, whatsoever.
n.m — article
כְּלִי 324 n.m. article, utensil, vessel
H3366
n-m — value, wealth, costliness, dignity
Derivation: from 3365;
value, i.e. (concretely) wealth; abstractly, costliness, dignity
KJV: honour, precious (things), price.
n.m — preciousness
יְקָר n.m. preciousness, price, honour
H8193
n-f — lip, language, margin
Derivation: or (in dual and plural) שֶׂפֶת; probably from 5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
KJV: band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
n.f — lip
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
1. lip
2. language
3. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
H1847
n — knowledge
Derivation: from 3045;
knowledge
KJV: cunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly).
n.f — knowledge
דַּ֫עַת n.f. knowledge
1.
a. knowledge, perception
b. = skill (in workmanship)
c. of proph. knowledge
d. esp. knowledge with moral quality
e. knowledge possessed by God
2. esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom
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Verse 15
Proverbs 20:15
The lips of knowledge (a good understanding to guide the lips and a good elocution to diffuse the knowledge) are to be preferred far before gold, and pearl, and rubies; for, 1. They are more rare in themselves, more scarce and hard to be got. There is gold in many a man's pocket that has no grace in his heart. In Solomon's time there was plenty of gold (Kg1 10:21) and abundance of rubies; every body wore them; they were to be bought in every town. But wisdom is a rare thing, a precious jewel; few have it so as to do good with it, nor is it to be purchased of the merchants. 2. They are more enriching to us and more adorning. They make us rich towards God, rich in good works, Ti1 2:9, Ti1 2:10. Most people are fond of gold, and a ruby or two will not serve, they must have a multitude of them, a cabinet of jewels; but he that has the lips of knowledge despises these, because he knows and possesses better things.
Cross-references: 1Kgs 10:21 · 1Tim 2:9 · 1Tim 2:10