Proverbs 27:21
WEB
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
BSB
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
KJV
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
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
H376
n-m — man
Derivation: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant);
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), none, one, people, person, steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare 802.
n.m — man
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
H6310
n-m — mouth, blowing, speech, edge, portion, side, according to
Derivation: from 6284;
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to
KJV: accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), × eat, edge, end, entry, file, hole, × in, mind, mouth, part, portion, × (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, × spoken, talk, tenor, × to, two-edged, wish, word.
n.m — mouth
פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth
1.
a. mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
b. external organ
2.
a. much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
b. as laughing; panting
c. of God
d. of idols
e. of musical instr. = sound
3. of animals; hence of edge of sword
4. mouth = opening, orifice
5.
a. extremity, end
b. = portion
6. with preps.
H4110
n-m — fame
Derivation: from 1984;
fame
KJV: praise.
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Verse 21
Proverbs 27:21
This gives us a touchstone by which we may try ourselves. Silver and gold are tried by putting them into the furnace and fining-pot; so is man tried by praising him. Let him be extolled and preferred, and then he will show himself what he is. 1. If a man be made, by the applause that is given him, proud, conceited, and scornful, - if he take the glory to himself which he should transmit to God, as Herod did, - if, the more he is praised, the more careless he is of what he says and does, - if he lie in bed till noon because his name is up, thereby it will appear that he is a vain foolish man, and a man who, though he be praised, has nothing in him truly praise-worthy. 2. If, on the contrary, a man is made by his praise more thankful to God, more respectful to his friends, more watchful against every thing that may blemish his reputation, more diligent to improve himself, and do good to others, that he may answer the expectations of his friends from him, by this it will appear that he is a wise and good man. He has a good temper of mind who knows how to pass by evil report and good report, and is still the same, Co2 6:8.
Cross-references: 2Cor 6:8