Proverbs 3:15

Pro 3:15 She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Ver. 15. She is more precious than rubies.] Or, Pearls, which of old were most highly esteemed, {a} as Pliny testifieth; nostra etate multis aliis gemmis post ponunter. Today, there are many other gems of greater price, as rubies, carbuncles, &c. Cardan {b} tells us that every precious stone hath an egregious virtue in it; every spiritual grace hath, we are sure, and is of more value than large domains, stately buildings, and ten thousand rivers of oil. If the mountains were pearl, the huge rocks rubies, and the whole globe a shining chrysolite, yet all this were not to be named in the same day with wisdom.

{a} Principium culmenque omnium rerum precii marga ritae tenent. - Plin. Gener. Hist. de Aquat., lib. iv.

{b} Card., Subt., lib. vii.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro_3:15

She is more precious than rubies.

The quality of virtue

The words wisdom, understanding, and knowledge partly translate the word virtue.

I. The wonderful effects virtue produces on the mind.

1. The effects bear no proportion to our immediate sentiments concerning it.

2. Observe the complete change which it produces upon the human character itself. It gives the human being all the value which he can possess.

3. Notice the power it possesses of communicating immediate happiness to the mind.

4. Virtue reaches beyond the agent himself, and affects all who stand in connection with him.

5. Observe the unexpected and amazing changes which it produces upon the great societies of the earth. It is, in fact, the great principle of national happiness and civilisation.

II. The argument suggested. Look beyond the appearances of the moment, and study and know your real interest, and your own natural and best connections. Placed among men, virtue operates incessantly for their benefit. She is incessantly employed in improving and comforting us. (John Mackenzie, D.D.)

The best of all blessings

1. We cannot get all that we desire, but we can get the grace of God.

2. If we could get all the things that we desire, they would not make us happy, but the grace of God will.

3. If we could get them, and they could make us happy, we cannot keep them; but we can keep the grace of God. The grace of God, or the religion of Jesus, is the most valuable thing in the world. Then how earnestly we should seek it. (R. Newton, D. D.)

The circumstances which enhance the value of virtue

Virtue is beautiful and lovely in itself. Her dictates are founded on the nature of things.

1. The more accurate and perspicuous our knowledge of the principle which gives birth to a virtuous act, or on which it is performed, the greater is the value of it.

2. The more generous and pure the motives to our good actions, the greater is the value of them.

3. The more the virtues that we practise are contrary to our natural dispositions, to our constitution, or to our darling propensities, the more resplendent and excellent are they.

4. The value of our virtue is greatly enhanced by the outward obstacles we have to contend with in the exercise of it, or in proportion to the little encouragement we meet with in it.

5. The more considerable the privation we undergo for the sake of virtue, the more various and inevitable the hazards that attend it, the greater is its value.

6. The satisfaction, or the willingness with which a virtue is practised, contributes in like manner very much to heighten its beauty or its worth.

7. Constancy in virtue is also a circumstance which enhances the value of it.

8. The more benign the influence of our virtue is upon the public interest, the greater is its value. (G. J. Zollikofer.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

rubies--gems, or pearls.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 15. She is more precious than rubies] מפנינים mippeninim. The word principally means pearls, but may be taken for precious stones in general. The root is פנה panah, he looked, beheld; and as it gives the idea of the eye always being turned towards the observer, Mr. Parkhurst thinks that it means the loadstone; See Clarke on Job 28:18, where this subject is considered at large. If the oriental ruby, or any other precious stone, be intended here, the word may refer to their being cut and polished, so that they present different faces, and reflect the light to you in whatever direction you may look at them.

All the things thou canst desire] Superior to every thing that can be an object of desire here below. But who believes this?

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(15) Rubies.—The meaning of the Hebrew penînîm is doubtful. Lam_4:7 shows the colour to have been red; “coral” is a probable rendering; that of “pearls” is unlikely. For the thought, comp. Job_28:15-19.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

15. rubies] This rendering is retained in R.V. text, with a reference to Job_28:18, where the alternative is given in the marg. of red coral, or pearls. The expression “more ruddy” (which those, however, who render “pearls,” take to mean “more bright”), Lam_4:7, would seem to confine our choice to rubies or red coral. The word occurs frequently in this Book (Pro_8:11, Pro_20:15, Pro_31:10). The LXX. evade the difficulty with λίθων πολυτελῶν, precious stones, and the Vulg. follows suit with cunctis opibus. See note in this Series on Lam_4:7, and Smith’s Dict. of Bible, Art. Rubies.

all the things … are not] This is the Hebrew way of saying, none of the things … are; and so it is rendered in R.V. Another example occurs in Psa_25:3, where the P.B.V. preserves the Heb. idiom, and A.V. and R.V. give the corresponding English form of expression.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

She is more precious than rubies,.... Or "pearls" (u), as some; which were formerly esteemed above all precious stones; the eastern were the more valuable (w), which Solomon had most knowledge of; Christ is the pearl of great price, of more value than any pearl, or all put together, Mat 13:46; See Gill on Job 28:18; or "carbuncles" (x), as others. The Targum and Septuagint render it in general terms "precious stones"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "than all riches"; there is a beautiful gradation in this and Pro 3:14, wisdom is first preferred to silver, then to "fine gold" (y), and here, to "precious stones" Christ is precious, exceeding precious in his names and titles, Messiah, Jesus, Immanuel, &c. in his divine nature, and the perfections of it, which show his condescension and grace to become a Saviour, assure of his ability to save, and render his mediatorial performances valuable; in his person as God and man; in the beauty, fulness, and fitness of it; in his power, wisdom, grace, &c. in his offices, his priestly office; in his satisfaction, his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, are precious; in his intercession, which is ever acceptable and prevalent; in his prophetic office, his Gospel is precious, every truth and promise of it; in his kingly office, all his ordinances and appointments, his commandments are more to be loved than gold, yea, than fine gold; in all his relations and characters, and in everything that belongs to him; he is so to them that believe, and to none else; Pe1 2:7; these see the need and worth of him, receive much from him, and live upon him; and especially he is precious to them at first conversion; and so he is after desertions, and long absence; and under temptations and afflictions, losses and disappointments; and in the hour of death: and he is superlatively precious, "more precious than rubies", or any precious stones; of a superior lustre and glory to them, being "the brightness of his Father's glory"; and of more intrinsic worth and value, of greater price than any pearls, and more enriching to his possessors, for such possess all things;

and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her; this takes in a very great compass: there are many things that are very desirable, and the desires of man's heart are very extensive, and not easily satisfied; there are the precious things of heaven, brought forth by the sun and moon; and the precious things of the earth, which are either upon it or in it, in the bowels of it, and upon the plains, and hills; but none of equal worth with Christ; there are many precious and excellent, and desirable persons in the world, neighbours, friends, relations, and acquaintance; saints on earth, and angels in heaven; yet none to be valued with Christ, and compared to him; see Psa 73:25.

(u) "prae margaritis", Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis. (w) De Boot. Hist. Gemm. l. 2. c. 39. (x) "Carbunculis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. (y) "Vilius argentum est auro, virtutibus aurum", Horat. Ep. l. 1. Ep. 1. v. 52.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Rubies - The פנינים pânı̂ynı̂ym were among the costly articles of traffic, and red or rose-colored Lam 4:7. The last fact has led some to identify them with coral, or (as in the King James Version) with “rubies.” Most commentators, however, have identified them with pearls, which may connect this passage with Mat 7:6; Mat 13:45. The words of the promise here are almost the echo of 1Ki 3:11-13.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Riches. Hebrew peninim, (Haydock) "pearls," Job xxviii. 18. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

For true worth and usefulness.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

15. Rubies — Original word uncertain; pearls, red corals, or some kind of precious stones. Some think the magnet or loadstone intended.

Things thou canst desire — Or, desirable things, delights; that is, jewels, so much sought after in the East for the adornment of both sexes.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

The author speaks of wisdom as if it were a woman. (See: Personification)

more precious

"more valuable"

She has length of days in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor

The writer speak of the benefits that one gains from having wisdom as if wisdom were a woman who held these qualities in her hands and offered them to people. AT: "Wisdom gives a person length of days and riches and honor" (See: Personification and Metaphor)

length of days

This idiom refers to a long life. AT: "long life" (See: Idiom)

translationWords

wise

honor

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

and all your desirable things Heb. חפציך all that you desire.

cannot be compared to it They are not equal to its worth, nor their price to its price.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.