Proverbs 4:7 kjv

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Proverbs 4:7 nkjv

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Proverbs 4:7 niv

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Proverbs 4:7 esv

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Proverbs 4:7 nlt

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

Proverbs 4 verses

Proverbs 4 7 Meaning

Proverbs 4:7 emphasizes that wisdom is the foremost priority in life, a principle foundational above all other pursuits. It issues a clear command to actively and diligently acquire wisdom, and further insists that alongside all endeavors and gains, one must also attain understanding—the crucial ability to discern, comprehend, and apply this wisdom in every aspect of existence. This verse establishes the indispensable nature of spiritual and practical discernment for living a life aligned with God's principles.

Proverbs 4 7 Context

Proverbs chapter 4 serves as an earnest instruction from a father to his son, echoing the teachings the father himself received from his own parents. It forms a core part of the larger literary unit (chapters 1-9) where Wisdom is personified and presented as the primary path to a flourishing, blessed, and righteous life. This specific verse (Proverbs 4:7) crystallizes the chapter's central message by emphasizing the unparalleled value and necessity of acquiring wisdom and understanding above all else. Within the covenant context of ancient Israel, this instruction prepared youth to live in accordance with God's commands, recognizing that true success and protection derived from spiritual discernment, not worldly pursuits.

Proverbs 4 7 Word analysis

• Wisdom (Hebrew: חָכְמָה, ḥokhmāh):

  • Meaning: Skill, discernment, shrewdness, practical sagacity for life, comprehensive applied knowledge.
  • Significance: In the Bible, ḥokhmāh is more than mere intelligence; it's a moral and spiritual quality, reflecting the ability to live skillfully according to God's divine order, distinguishing right from wrong and applying truth effectively to achieve good outcomes. It is rooted in the fear of the Lord.

• principal thing (Hebrew: רֵאשִׁית, rēʾšît):

  • Meaning: First, beginning, chief, head, prime, best, supreme.
  • Significance: This word conveys absolute priority and preeminence. Wisdom is not simply one important thing, but the most important thing, setting the foundational standard and purpose for all other life pursuits.

• therefore get (Hebrew: קְנֵה, qᵊnēh):

  • Meaning: Acquire, buy, obtain, possess. An imperative verb.
  • Significance: This is a direct command implying an active, diligent, and often costly pursuit. It suggests that obtaining wisdom may require sacrifice, effort, and intentional investment, treating it as the most valuable possession one could obtain.

• wisdom: The immediate repetition of "wisdom" following the command reinforces its centrality and undiluted focus as the paramount objective.

• and with all thy getting get (Hebrew: וּבְכָל־קִנְיָנְךָ קְנֵה, ûḇəḵāl-qinəyānəḵā qᵊnēh):

  • Meaning: And with all your acquisitions, acquire; with everything you might obtain, get.
  • Significance: This phrase intensely reiterates the imperative, elevating the pursuit of understanding to an all-encompassing goal. It means that amidst every other endeavor or possession in life, one's foremost accompanying aim should be to gain spiritual insight and discernment. Whatever one has or seeks, it should be subordinate to or rooted in wisdom and understanding.

• understanding (Hebrew: בִּינָה, bînāh):

  • Meaning: Discernment, insight, intelligence, ability to perceive differences or distinguish between things, comprehension, discernment of meaning.
  • Significance: Often paired with ḥokhmāh, bînāh refers to the practical, discerning aspect of wisdom. It is the capacity to interpret knowledge correctly, make wise judgments, perceive relationships, and distinguish between truth and error, especially in complex situations. It’s the ability to apply wisdom effectively.

Words-group analysis:

• "Wisdom is the principal thing": This powerful declarative statement establishes the unwavering, non-negotiable supremacy of wisdom. It immediately sets the agenda that the most essential acquisition in life is not material wealth or earthly power, but rather a profound alignment with God's way of thinking and living.
• "therefore get wisdom": This short, direct command links the preeminence of wisdom to the active, personal responsibility of pursuing it. The "therefore" signifies a logical consequence: because wisdom is paramount, its acquisition must be the primary life goal, requiring diligent effort.
• "and with all thy getting get understanding": This emphatic amplification highlights that understanding (practical discernment) is inextricably linked to true wisdom. It implies that every acquisition, pursuit, or possession in life, whether material or otherwise, must be infused with or measured by a deeper understanding—an ability to rightly discern and apply God's truth. It underscores that all of life's endeavors should culminate in spiritual insight.

Proverbs 4 7 Bonus section

The profound importance given to wisdom in Proverbs 4:7 reflects a central tenet of Old Testament thought: true wisdom (ḥokhmāh) originates from God and is deeply intertwined with the divine order of creation. It is not a human construct or philosophical abstraction, but an alignment with God's own perfect design for life and the universe. The personification of Wisdom in Proverbs 8, particularly her presence during creation, further underscores her eternal, divine nature.

This verse stands as a sharp polemic against any worldview that places material gain, personal reputation, or human intellect as the ultimate priority. It champions a spiritual value system where discerning the path of righteousness and understanding God's ways are the preeminent objectives. The poetic parallelism often used in Proverbs (e.g., wisdom || understanding) is not mere repetition but a literary device that either reinforces the same idea from a different angle or highlights complementary facets of a singular truth, as seen with ḥokhmāh and bînāh in this verse. Proverbs 4:7 is essentially the distillation of a father's entire teaching on how to live a good life, encapsulating it into a concise and memorable maxim for the ages.

Proverbs 4 7 Commentary

Proverbs 4:7 serves as the resolute core of a father's enduring instruction, unequivocally proclaiming wisdom's paramount position in human life. It posits wisdom as not merely desirable, but indispensable—the chief concern and primary pursuit that outweighs all other aims. The initial declaration "Wisdom is the principal thing" elevates this spiritual and practical discernment above any temporal wealth, status, or knowledge, marking it as the very foundation upon which a life of righteousness and flourishing can be built. The command "therefore get wisdom" emphasizes that this isn't a passive concept, but an active, zealous, and possibly sacrificing quest, similar to securing a most precious commodity.

The accompanying instruction, "and with all thy getting get understanding," further deepens the exhortation. It implies that in every endeavor and every acquisition one makes in life, the crucial element is to also gain bînāh—the insightful ability to comprehend, distinguish, and apply wisdom in practical, real-world scenarios. This ensures that wisdom is not merely an intellectual abstraction, but a living discernment that navigates complexities, makes sound judgments, and guides conduct. Ultimately, the verse is a divine call to reorient priorities, recognizing that genuine blessedness flows from a life diligently rooted in God-given wisdom and practical spiritual understanding.

• Examples for Practical Usage:
  • Choosing an educational path that fosters not just knowledge but moral discernment and ethical reasoning.
  • Prioritizing biblical study and prayer to gain God's perspective over consuming endless worldly information.
  • Making financial decisions based on stewardship principles and long-term spiritual health rather than immediate gratification.