Proverbs 8:9
Proverbs 8:9 in Multiple Translations
They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.
They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.
My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
They are all plaine to him that will vnderstande, and streight to them that woulde finde knowledge.
All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge.
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 8:9
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 8:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כֻּלָּ֣/ם
נְ֭כֹחִים
לַ/מֵּבִ֑ין
וִֽ֝/ישָׁרִ֗ים
לְ/מֹ֣צְאֵי
דָֽעַת
כֻּלָּ֣/ם
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms | Suff
נְ֭כֹחִים
nâkôach
H5228
straightforward
Adj
לַ/מֵּבִ֑ין
bîyn
H995
to understand
Prep | V-Hiphil
וִֽ֝/ישָׁרִ֗ים
yâshâr
H3477
Jashar
Conj | Adj
לְ/מֹ֣צְאֵי
mâtsâʼ
H4672
to find
Prep | V-Qal
דָֽעַת
daʻath
H1847
knowledge
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 8:9
כֻּלָּ֣/ם
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms | Suff
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
נְ֭כֹחִים
nâkôach
H5228
"straightforward"
Adj
Describes something or someone as straightforward or morally upright, like a just ruler. It appears in Proverbs to describe a person of integrity. Means being honest and fair in all interactions.
Definition: straight, right, straightness, be in front of
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: plain, right, uprightness. See also: 2 Samuel 15:3; Proverbs 24:26; Proverbs 8:9.
לַ/מֵּבִ֑ין
bîyn
H995
"to understand"
Prep | V-Hiphil
To understand or discern, this verb means to separate mentally and know something with your mind, as seen in Proverbs where it talks about gaining insight.
Definition: 1) to discern, understand, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to perceive, discern 1a2) to understand, know (with the mind) 1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider 1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding 1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to understand 1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach 1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently 1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct 2) (TWOT) prudent, regard
Usage: Occurs in 162 OT verses. KJV: attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man). See also: Genesis 41:33; Psalms 139:2; Psalms 5:2.
וִֽ֝/ישָׁרִ֗ים
yâshâr
H3477
"Jashar"
Conj | Adj
Jashar refers to being straight or just, like doing what is convenient and right. A man named Jashar lived before Israel's monarchy, as mentioned in Joshua 10:13. He wrote a book of poetry and songs, now lost.
Definition: A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jos.10.13
Usage: Occurs in 119 OT verses. KJV: convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), [phrase] pleased well right(-eous), straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness). See also: Exodus 15:26; Psalms 32:11; Psalms 7:11.
לְ/מֹ֣צְאֵי
mâtsâʼ
H4672
"to find"
Prep | V-Qal
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.
דָֽעַת
daʻath
H1847
"knowledge"
N-fs
In the Bible, daath means knowledge or understanding, like when Solomon asked God for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:9. It involves skill and perception, and is often linked to wisdom. This concept appears in the book of Proverbs.
Definition: 1) knowledge 1a) knowledge, perception, skill 1b) discernment, understanding, wisdom
Usage: Occurs in 91 OT verses. KJV: cunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly). See also: Genesis 2:9; Proverbs 14:7; Psalms 19:3.
Study Notes — Proverbs 8:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 8:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 8:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 8:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 8:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
- Sermons on Proverbs 8:9
Context — The Excellence of Wisdom
7For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. 11For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 14:6 | A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | John 7:17 | If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own. |
| 4 | John 6:45 | It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me— |
| 5 | Proverbs 18:1–2 | He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions. |
| 6 | Proverbs 15:24 | The path of life leads upward for the wise, that he may avoid going down to Sheol. |
| 7 | Matthew 13:11–12 | He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. |
| 8 | Psalms 25:12–14 | Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him. His soul will dwell in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them. |
| 9 | Proverbs 15:14 | A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. |
| 10 | Psalms 119:98–100 | Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts. |
Proverbs 8:9 Summary
This verse, Proverbs 8:9, means that when we seek wisdom and knowledge, the truth will become clear to us, and we will be able to live upright and righteous lives, as also seen in Psalm 37:37. It's like having a guide who shows us the right path to take, as mentioned in Proverbs 3:5-6. When we trust in God's wisdom and seek to understand His ways, we will be able to make good choices and live in a way that honors Him, as encouraged in Proverbs 10:8 and Proverbs 12:1. By seeking wisdom and knowledge, we can gain a deeper understanding of God's will for our lives, as promised in Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for something to be 'plain to the discerning'?
This phrase suggests that those who are discerning, or able to judge wisely, will be able to clearly understand the truth, as seen in Proverbs 8:9, and this discernment is a gift from God, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16.
How can we become more discerning and find knowledge?
According to Proverbs 8:9, becoming discerning and finding knowledge requires a willingness to seek wisdom and instruction, as encouraged in Proverbs 10:8 and Proverbs 12:1, and to trust in God's guidance, as promised in Proverbs 3:5-6.
What is the relationship between being upright and finding knowledge?
In Proverbs 8:9, being upright and finding knowledge are closely linked, suggesting that those who seek knowledge and wisdom will be guided towards upright and righteous living, as also seen in Psalm 119:7-8 and Psalm 37:37.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
Proverbs 8:9 is part of a larger passage where wisdom is personified, calling out to people to receive instruction and knowledge, as seen in Proverbs 8:1-11, and this verse specifically highlights the clarity and uprightness of wisdom's words, as mentioned in Proverbs 8:7-8.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to seek discernment and wisdom, and how can I apply the principles of Proverbs 8:9 to those areas?
- How can I cultivate a deeper desire for knowledge and wisdom, and what role does humility play in this process, as seen in Proverbs 22:4 and James 4:6-10?
- In what ways can I trust God to guide me towards upright and righteous living, even when the path ahead is uncertain, as promised in Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 30:21?
- What are some ways I can prioritize seeking wisdom and knowledge in my daily life, and how can I make this a consistent habit, as encouraged in Psalm 119:97-100 and Matthew 7:7-8?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 8:9
They [are] all plain to him that understandeth,.... Whose understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of God; who is a spiritual man, that has a discerning, and can judge of spiritual things: as for
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 8:9
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
Plain; evident and clear to their minds; or, right, just and good. To him that understandeth; either to him who with an honest mind applies himself to the study of them in the diligent use of all the means appointed by God to that end; or to him whose mind God hath enlightened by his Spirit, though they seem otherwise to ignorant and carnal-minded men. That find knowledge; that are truly wise and discerning persons, and taught of God.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
Proverbs 8:9 They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.Ver. 9. They are all plain to him that understandeth.] Plain in things necessary to salvation; for as all duties, so all truths do not concern all men. God doth not expect or require that every man should be a doctor in the chair; but those points that direct to duty here, and salvation hereafter, are clear, express, and obvious to them that desire to understand them; for some there are, qui ut liberius peccent, libenter ignorant. It was a smart answer which M. Durant, a witty and learned minister of the Reformed Church of Paris, gave to a lady of suspected chastity, and now revolted: when she pretended the hardness of the Scripture, Why, said he, madam, what can be more plain than "Thou shalt not commit adultery?" Had she not been failing in the practice of what she could not but know, she had found no cause to complain of the difficulty of that which she could not know. Bernard.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
(9) They are all plain . . .—Because “the secret of the Lord is (only) with them that fear Him “(Psalms 25:14), and God reveals such things unto them by His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10), while the “natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him” (ibid., Proverbs 8:14).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
Verse 9. They are all plain] נכחים nechochim, straight forward, over against every man, level to every capacity. This is true of all that concerns the salvation of the soul. To them that find knowledge.] When a man gets the knowledge of himself, then he sees all the threatenings of God to be right. When he obtains the knowledge of GOD in Christ, then he finds that all the promises of God are right - yea and amen.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 8:9
9. Comp. Matthew 13:11; Matthew 13:16. Proverbs 8:10-11. The treasures she offers. In place of gold and silver and precious stones and whatever else men covet, wisdom offers “durable riches,” intellectual, moral, spiritual treasures, and offers them in and with herself in responsive love to all who love and seek her.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 8:9
9. Plain — Rather, in front of one; hence easily seen. To them that find knowledge — Or, have found; that is, those possessing knowledge; the intelligent, the educated.
Sermons on Proverbs 8:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Transfiguration in the Holy Spirit by St. Seraphim of Sarov | St. Seraphim of Sarov explains to a seeker how to know if one is in the grace of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of seeking divine knowledge filled with love for God an |
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Aaron's Failure by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of his daughter giving a testimony before leaving for Nepal. She attributes her faith and presence at the meeting to her pa |
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Deeper Waters - Part 1 by Leonard Ravenhill | Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the profound depth of the Gospel of John, particularly focusing on the themes of sanctification and the nature of Jesus as both divine and human. He ar |
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Trusting God Again Like a Child by Francis Chan | Francis Chan emphasizes the importance of trusting God with childlike faith, urging leaders to genuinely love their congregations and seek God's presence in their ministry. He refl |
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Prayer as a Way of Walking in Love - a Personal Journey by Francis Chan | This sermon emphasizes the importance of dwelling in the presence of God, seeking His beauty, and abiding in Him as the ultimate source of strength and peace. It highlights the nee |
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Book of James by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of staying faithful to God and not being enticed away by worldly distractions. He highlights the book of James as a powerful c |
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The Danger of Pharisaism by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Luke chapter twelve, verse forty-five, which talks about a slave who becomes abusive towards other slaves because he believes his master wil |