The Meaning of Proverbs 2:4 Explained

Proverbs 2:4

KJV: If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

YLT: If thou dost seek her as silver, And as hid treasures searchest for her,

Darby: if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasures:

ASV: If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If thou seekest  her as silver,  and searchest  for her as [for] hid treasures; 

What does Proverbs 2:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 2:1-22 - Wisdom Guards From Evil
Several words are reiterated in this chapter, which will unlock its treasures. Understanding, Proverbs 2:2-3; Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 2:9; Proverbs 2:11. If wisdom is a moral quality, leading to intuitive knowledge, understanding may be taken to include something of a prophetic strain. Understanding gathers up and makes use of the results of observation and experience, whether of oneself or of others.
Notice also the word walk, Proverbs 2:7; Proverbs 2:13; way, Proverbs 2:8; Proverbs 2:12-13; Proverbs 2:15; Proverbs 2:20; paths, Proverbs 2:8; Proverbs 2:13; Proverbs 2:15; Proverbs 2:18-20. See how eager the Divine Teacher is (l) to deliver the unwary from the way of the evil man, Proverbs 2:12, and from the way of the evil woman, Proverbs 2:16; and (2) to direct the feet of the young into the ways of the good and into the paths of the righteous, Proverbs 2:20. The path of safety and permanence is that in which we are perpetually conscious of the presence of the Master, Christ. He is the unseen companion of the soul in its difficult and perilous pilgrimage; and we may, in that companionship, appropriate the buckler of Proverbs 2:7, the integrity of Proverbs 2:8, and the stability of Proverbs 2:21. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 2

1  wisdom promises godliness to her children
10  and safety from evil company
20  and direction in good ways

What do the individual words in Proverbs 2:4 mean?

If you seek her as silver and as [for] hidden treasures search for her
אִם־ תְּבַקְשֶׁ֥נָּה כַכָּ֑סֶף וְֽכַמַּטְמוֹנִ֥ים תַּחְפְּשֶֽׂנָּה

תְּבַקְשֶׁ֥נָּה  you  seek  her 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
כַכָּ֑סֶף  as  silver 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
וְֽכַמַּטְמוֹנִ֥ים  and  as  [for]  hidden  treasures 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַטְמֹון  
Sense: hidden treasure, treasure.
תַּחְפְּשֶֽׂנָּה  search  for  her 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: חָפַשׂ  
Sense: to search, search for, to search out, disguise oneself.