King James Version

Proverbs 27:21

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

מַצְרֵ֣ףmatsreffining potמִצְרֵףnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “fining pot”, the ordinary formH4715a cruciblefining pot.לַ֭כֶּסֶףlakesefto moneyכֶּסֶףpreposition, with the article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “to money”, the ordinary formH3701silver (from its pale color); by implication, moneymoney, price, silver(-ling).וְכ֣וּרvekhurand furnace. Compare H3600כּוּרconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and furnace. Compare H3600”, the ordinary formH3564a pot or furnace (as if excavated)furnace. Compare H3600 (כִּיר).לַזָּהָ֑בlazahavto goldזָהָבpreposition, with the article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “to gold”, the ordinary formH2091gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear skygold(-en), fair weather.וְ֝אִ֗ישׁveishand a certainאִישׁconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and a certain”, the ordinary formH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…לְפִ֣יlefito edgeפֶּהpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “to edge”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6310the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according toaccord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] s…מַהֲלָלֽוֹmahalalvopraiseמַהֲלָלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “praise”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4110famepraise.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is tried by his praise.

Young’s Literal Translation

A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And a man according to his praise.

World English Bible

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.

Darby Translation

The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so let a man be to the mouth that praiseth him.

Douay-Rheims

As silver is tried in the fining-pot and gold in the furnace: so a man is tried by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after knowledge.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. a The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Δοκίμιον ἀργυρίῳ καὶ χρυσῷ πύρωσις, ἀνὴρ δὲ δοκιμάζεται διὰ στόματος ἐγκωμιαζόντων αὐτόν. a καρδία ἀνόμου ἐκζητεῖ κακὰ, καρδία δὲ εὐθὴς ζητεῖ γνῶσιν.