Proverbs 8:17
Proverbs 8:17 in Multiple Translations
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.
Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.
I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
I loue them that loue me: and they that seeke me earely, shall finde me.
I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly do find me.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
I, wisdom, love all those who love me, and all those who truly seek me will find me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 8:17
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 8:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֲ֭נִי
אהבי/ה
אֹהֲבַ֣/י
אֵהָ֑ב
וּ֝/מְשַׁחֲרַ֗/י
יִמְצָאֻֽ/נְנִי
אֲ֭נִי
ʼănîy
H589
I
Pron
אהבי/ה
ʼâhab
H157
to love
V-Qal | Suff
אֹהֲבַ֣/י
ʼâhab
H157
to love
V-Qal | Suff
אֵהָ֑ב
ʼâhab
H157
to love
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
וּ֝/מְשַׁחֲרַ֗/י
shâchar
H7836
to seek
Conj | V-Piel | Suff
יִמְצָאֻֽ/נְנִי
mâtsâʼ
H4672
to find
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 8:17
אֲ֭נִי
ʼănîy
H589
"I"
Pron
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Definition: I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Usage: Occurs in 803 OT verses. KJV: I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who. See also: Genesis 6:17; Leviticus 19:36; 1 Samuel 25:24.
אהבי/ה
ʼâhab
H157
"to love"
V-Qal | Suff
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Definition: : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)
Usage: Occurs in 195 OT verses. KJV: (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend. See also: Genesis 22:2; Psalms 116:1; Psalms 4:3.
אֹהֲבַ֣/י
ʼâhab
H157
"to love"
V-Qal | Suff
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Definition: : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)
Usage: Occurs in 195 OT verses. KJV: (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend. See also: Genesis 22:2; Psalms 116:1; Psalms 4:3.
אֵהָ֑ב
ʼâhab
H157
"to love"
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Definition: : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)
Usage: Occurs in 195 OT verses. KJV: (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend. See also: Genesis 22:2; Psalms 116:1; Psalms 4:3.
וּ֝/מְשַׁחֲרַ֗/י
shâchar
H7836
"to seek"
Conj | V-Piel | Suff
This verb means to seek or search for something early and earnestly, like in Psalm 63:1 where David seeks God diligently. It can also mean to rise early, as in Proverbs 8:17 where wisdom is found by those who seek it early. The word appears about 15 times in the Bible.
Definition: 1) to seek, seek early or earnestly, look early or diligently for 1a) (Qal) to look for diligently, seek 1b) (Piel) to seek, seek early
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: (do something) betimes, enquire early, rise (seek) betimes, seek diligently) early, in the morning). See also: Job 7:21; Proverbs 7:15; Psalms 63:2.
יִמְצָאֻֽ/נְנִי
mâtsâʼ
H4672
"to find"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) to find, attain to 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to find 1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought) 1a1b) to find (what is lost) 1a1c) to meet, encounter 1a1d) to find (a condition) 1a1e) to learn, devise 1a2) to find out 1a2a) to find out 1a2b) to detect 1a2c) to guess 1a3) to come upon, light upon 1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with 1a3b) to hit 1a3c) to befall 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be found 1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered 1b1b) to appear, be recognised 1b1c) to be discovered, be detected 1b1d) to be gained, be secured 1b2) to be, be found 1b2a) to be found in 1b2b) to be in the possession of 1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be 1b2d) to be left (after war) 1b2e) to be present 1b2f) to prove to be 1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to find, attain 1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come 1c3) to cause to encounter 1c4) to present (offering)
Usage: Occurs in 425 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. See also: Genesis 2:20; Deuteronomy 22:3; 2 Kings 9:35.
Study Notes — Proverbs 8:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 8:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 8:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 8:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 8:17
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
- Sermons on Proverbs 8:17
Context — The Excellence of Wisdom
15By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John 14:23 | Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. |
| 2 | John 14:21 | Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” |
| 3 | Psalms 91:14 | “Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him. |
| 4 | Isaiah 55:6 | Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 2:30 | Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained. |
| 6 | 1 John 4:19 | We love because He first loved us. |
| 7 | Matthew 7:7–8 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. |
| 8 | Matthew 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. |
| 9 | Isaiah 45:19 | I have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right. |
| 10 | James 1:5 | Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. |
Proverbs 8:17 Summary
This verse is saying that God loves those who love Him, and if we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him. It's like having a close friend who is always there for us, but we have to make an effort to spend time with them and get to know them better. By seeking God 'early', we can experience His presence and guidance in our lives, and receive the many blessings He has in store for us (see Psalm 91:14-16, Jeremiah 29:11). By loving and seeking God, we can have a deep and meaningful relationship with Him that brings joy, peace, and purpose to our lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'love' God in Proverbs 8:17?
To love God means to have a deep affection and commitment to Him, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:5, where we are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength. This kind of love is not just a feeling, but a choice to prioritize our relationship with Him.
Who are the ones that 'seek' God in this verse?
The ones who seek God are those who are diligent and intentional in their pursuit of Him, as seen in Jeremiah 29:13, where it says that we will find God when we seek Him with all our heart. This seeking is not just a casual interest, but a heartfelt desire to know and follow Him.
What does it mean to 'seek' God 'early'?
Seeking God 'early' means to prioritize our relationship with Him from the beginning of our day, as seen in Psalm 63:1, where David says that he seeks God earnestly in the morning. It also means to seek Him early in life, before the distractions and pressures of the world take over.
What is the promise for those who seek God in this verse?
The promise is that they will 'find' Him, which means to experience His presence, guidance, and blessing in their lives, as seen in Matthew 7:7-8, where Jesus promises that those who seek will find, and those who knock will have the door opened to them.
Reflection Questions
- What are some practical ways I can demonstrate my love for God today?
- How can I prioritize seeking God 'early' in my daily routine, and what benefits can I expect from doing so?
- What are some things that might be hindering my ability to seek God wholeheartedly, and how can I overcome them?
- How can I cultivate a deeper desire to seek God, and what role can prayer and Scripture reading play in this process?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 8:17
I love them that love me,.... Those that love Christ are such who are born again, and have a spiritual and experimental knowledge of him; that believe in him, have seen his loveliness, have had his
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 8:17
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. I love them that love me: and those that seek me early shall find me.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
I love them that love me; I do not despise their love though it be but a small and inconsiderable thing to me but I kindly accept it, and will recompense it with my love and favour. That seek me early, i.e. with sincere affection, and great diligence, and above all other persons or things in the world; which he mentions as the effect and evidence of their love; for otherwise all men pretend to love God.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.Ver. 17. I love them that love me.] The philosopher could say, that if moral virtue could be seen with mortal eyes, she would stir up wonderful loves of herself in the hearts of the beholders. How much more, then, would the "wisdom of God in a mystery!," that essential wisdom of God especially, the Lord Jesus, who is totus desiderabilis, "altogether lovely," "the desire of all nations," whom whosoever loveth not deserves to be doubly accursed. My love was crucified, said Ignatius, who "loved not his life unto the death." Neither was there any love lost, or can be, for "I love them that love me." "And if any man love me, my Father will love him, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Men do not always reciprocate, nor return love for love. "For my love they are mine adversaries; yea, they have rewarded me hatred for my love." David lost his love upon Absalom; Paul upon the Corinthians; old Andronicus, the Greek emperor, upon his graceless nephew of the same name. But here is no such danger. It shall not be easy for any man to outlove wisdom. For, (Objection.) Whereas some one might reply, You are so taken up with states, and have such great suitors, kings, princes, nobles, judges, that it is not for mean men to look for any love from you; - (Solution.) Not so, saith wisdom, for "I love them that love me," be they never so much below me. "Grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity." Tantum velis, et Deus tibi praeoccurret, saith Nazianzen. Ambulas, si amas: non enim passibus ad Deum, sed affectibus curritur, saith Augustine.
Thou walkest if thou lovest; thou actest if thou affectest. They that seek me early.] As students sit close to it in the morning. Aurora rnusis amica. O ερωςμουεσταυρωται.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
(17) I love them that love me.—Comp. John 14:21 : he that loveth me. . . . I will love him.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
Verse 17. I love them that love me] Wisdom shows itself; teaches man the knowledge of himself; shows him also the will of God concerning him; manifests the snares and dangers of life, the allurements and unsatisfactory nature of all sensual and sinful pleasures, the blessedness of true religion, and the solid happiness which an upright soul derives from the peace and approbation of its Maker. If, then, the heart embraces this wisdom, follows this Divine teaching, and gives itself to God, his love will be shed abroad in it by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Thus we love God because he hath first loved us and the more we love him, the more we shall feel of his love, which will enable us to love him yet more and more; and thus we may go on increasing to eternity. Blessed be God! And those that seek me early shall find me.] Not merely betimes in the morning, though he who does so shall find it greatly to his advantage; (see on Psalms 4:1-8;) but early in life - in youth, and as near as possible to the first dawn of reason. To the young this gracious promise is particularly made: if they seek, they shall find. Others, who are old, may seek and find; but never to such advantage as they would have done, had they sought early. Youth is the time of advantage in every respect: it is the time of learning, the time of discipline; the time of improvement, the time of acquiring useful, solid, and gracious habits. As the first-fruits always belong to God, it is God's time; the time in which he is peculiarly gracious; and in which, to sincere youthful seekers, he pours out his benefits with great profusion.
"They that seek me early shall find me." Hear, ye young, and ye little ones! God offers himself now to you, with all his treasures of grace and glory. Thank him for his ineffable mercy, and embrace it without delay.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 8:17
17. early] Rather diligently, R.V. text, though R.V. marg. retains, early. See Proverbs 1:28, note. Wisdom is as accessible as she is desirable.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 8:17
17. I love, etc. — This and the following verses to 21, are probably a continuation of the train of thought begun at Proverbs 8:13. Seek me early — Or, speedily, earnestly.
Sermons on Proverbs 8:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Morning Watch - Part 2 by Oswald J. Smith | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of spending time in both reading the Word of God and praying. He encourages listeners to start their day by immersing themselv |
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Prudence: The Discipline of Godly Speech by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of developing the skill of wisdom and prudence. The speaker highlights that God's intention for all mankind is to live in peac |
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A Seeking Heart by Joshua Daniel | This sermon by Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of having a seeking heart, drawing parallels from the Christmas story where various characters sought Jesus. It highlights th |
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Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Leonard Ravenhill | Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the unchanging nature of Jesus Christ, who remains the same yesterday, today, and forever, as stated in Hebrews 13:8. He reflects on the glory of Chris |
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His Manifest Presence - Part 1 by Walter Beuttler | In this sermon transcript, the speaker shares a harrowing experience of witnessing a violent attack on a bus. He emphasizes the importance of relying on God's presence as a shield |
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The Hand of God by Billy Ingram | In this sermon, the preacher describes a powerful spiritual experience where the spirit of God swept through an auditorium, causing intense emotions and a desire for repentance. Th |
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Today Is the Day by Mike Gilchrist | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of going to the Holy Land with a man named Charles. They visited significant biblical sites such as the empty tomb and Calv |