It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
Wisdom cannot be measured, valued, or bought with even the finest material riches, for its worth surpasses all earthly wealth. That wisdom is reverence for the Lord and turning away from evil, whose way and place God alone knows, and it is learned by studying and obeying His word. It is not found by searching the earth or by trying to penetrate divine mysteries, but by humbly receiving what God has revealed and living according to His will. Its priceless worth belongs to solid knowledge and strength of intellect, to the heavenly treasure of knowing God and divine truth, to upright character and moral excellence formed by lifelong diligent effort, to pure faith and love, and to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.
Wisdom Beyond Earthly Price
Wisdom cannot be measured, valued, or bought with even the finest material riches. The gold of Ophir, the precious onyx, and the sapphire cannot equal its worth, for its worth surpasses all earthly wealth. It is the heavenly treasure being sought, and no rarest precious thing can purchase it.
The wisdom the verse calls priceless is reverence for the Lord and turning away from evil. Understanding is departing from evil. Its source is God, and God alone knows its way and place. It is learned through studying and obeying His word.
This wisdom is not found by searching the earth. It is not found by trying to penetrate divine mysteries. It is found by humbly receiving what God has revealed and living according to His will.
Priceless Worth Applied in Life
The verse applies to solid, valuable knowledge and strength of intellect, which cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, for their worth is greater than gold or silver. The solid knowledge gained in a child's early years is such a possession, beyond the price of earthly riches, which neither gold of Ophir nor silver nor jewels could buy.
The wisdom of the verse is the heavenly treasure being sought, which cannot be valued or bought with the finest material riches, including Ophir's gold, precious onyx, or sapphire. It is the treasure of eternal realities, whose worth not even the gold of Ophir, precious onyx, or sapphire can equal, and which is beyond the wealth of the richest mines and precious jewels. This is the knowledge of God and divine truth, and the substantial understanding gained by studying His Word and the plan of salvation, which cannot be bought with earthly wealth. That knowledge strengthens the mind and serves present and eternal good.
Strength of intellect and substantial knowledge gained in becoming acquainted with God, in contemplating the wonderful mysteries of the plan of salvation, and in learning the ways of the Lord cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, for their price is above gold and silver. This is enduring, practical knowledge of divine truth. It keeps the feet from stumbling upon the dark mountain of unbelief and from straying from the path of holiness cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in.
What is truly precious cannot be measured by the value of gold or jewels. A spotless character is precious like the gold of Ophir, and upright character and moral excellence are worth more than the finest gold, yet they cannot be bought or inherited. Sanctified mental qualities are more valuable than the gold of Ophir, and the worth of moral excellence cannot be measured by precious gold. Such character and excellence and mental qualities must be formed through daily effort to resist temptation and to cultivate God-given abilities, through diligent, persevering effort over a lifetime, with prayerful meditation, firm purpose, and wise use of God-given talents and opportunities. God gives opportunities, and success depends on how they are used, and living God's saving truth in this way forms a true moral standing with God as a work of a lifetime.
Spiritual riches are worth more than the finest material wealth, including the gold of Ophir. These are pure faith and love pictured as gold, spotless character made pure through Christ's blood, and the grace that gives clear spiritual discernment. The precious work of the Holy Spirit is worth more than the gold of Ophir and other rare treasures, and the presence and blessing of the Spirit of God are more precious than the finest earthly wealth, including the gold of Ophir.
The verse is illustrated by Solomon, for whom wisdom and wisdom's worth were once more precious than the gold of Ophir and could not be valued by the gold of Ophir or by precious gems and stones. He once valued wisdom above that gold, but lustful passion overcame him and led him away from God when he surrendered to lustful passions and turned from God. He thus lost his firmness, showing the need to guard virtue and depend on God for strength to the end.
Wisdom cannot be measured, valued, or bought with even the finest material riches, for its worth surpasses all earthly wealth. That wisdom is reverence for the Lord and turning away from evil, whose way and place God alone knows, and it is learned by studying and obeying His word. It is not found by searching the earth or by trying to penetrate divine mysteries, but by humbly receiving what God has revealed and living according to His will. Its priceless worth belongs to solid knowledge and strength of intellect, to the heavenly treasure of knowing God and divine truth, to upright character and moral excellence formed by lifelong diligent effort, to pure faith and love, and to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.
Wisdom Beyond Earthly Price
Wisdom cannot be measured, valued, or bought with even the finest material riches. The gold of Ophir, the precious onyx, and the sapphire cannot equal its worth, for its worth surpasses all earthly wealth. It is the heavenly treasure being sought, and no rarest precious thing can purchase it.
The wisdom the verse calls priceless is reverence for the Lord and turning away from evil. Understanding is departing from evil. Its source is God, and God alone knows its way and place. It is learned through studying and obeying His word.
This wisdom is not found by searching the earth. It is not found by trying to penetrate divine mysteries. It is found by humbly receiving what God has revealed and living according to His will.
Priceless Worth Applied in Life
The verse applies to solid, valuable knowledge and strength of intellect, which cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, for their worth is greater than gold or silver. The solid knowledge gained in a child's early years is such a possession, beyond the price of earthly riches, which neither gold of Ophir nor silver nor jewels could buy.
The wisdom of the verse is the heavenly treasure being sought, which cannot be valued or bought with the finest material riches, including Ophir's gold, precious onyx, or sapphire. It is the treasure of eternal realities, whose worth not even the gold of Ophir, precious onyx, or sapphire can equal, and which is beyond the wealth of the richest mines and precious jewels. This is the knowledge of God and divine truth, and the substantial understanding gained by studying His Word and the plan of salvation, which cannot be bought with earthly wealth. That knowledge strengthens the mind and serves present and eternal good.
Strength of intellect and substantial knowledge gained in becoming acquainted with God, in contemplating the wonderful mysteries of the plan of salvation, and in learning the ways of the Lord cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, for their price is above gold and silver. This is enduring, practical knowledge of divine truth. It keeps the feet from stumbling upon the dark mountain of unbelief and from straying from the path of holiness cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in.
What is truly precious cannot be measured by the value of gold or jewels. A spotless character is precious like the gold of Ophir, and upright character and moral excellence are worth more than the finest gold, yet they cannot be bought or inherited. Sanctified mental qualities are more valuable than the gold of Ophir, and the worth of moral excellence cannot be measured by precious gold. Such character and excellence and mental qualities must be formed through daily effort to resist temptation and to cultivate God-given abilities, through diligent, persevering effort over a lifetime, with prayerful meditation, firm purpose, and wise use of God-given talents and opportunities. God gives opportunities, and success depends on how they are used, and living God's saving truth in this way forms a true moral standing with God as a work of a lifetime.
Spiritual riches are worth more than the finest material wealth, including the gold of Ophir. These are pure faith and love pictured as gold, spotless character made pure through Christ's blood, and the grace that gives clear spiritual discernment. The precious work of the Holy Spirit is worth more than the gold of Ophir and other rare treasures, and the presence and blessing of the Spirit of God are more precious than the finest earthly wealth, including the gold of Ophir.
The verse is illustrated by Solomon, for whom wisdom and wisdom's worth were once more precious than the gold of Ophir and could not be valued by the gold of Ophir or by precious gems and stones. He once valued wisdom above that gold, but lustful passion overcame him and led him away from God when he surrendered to lustful passions and turned from God. He thus lost his firmness, showing the need to guard virtue and depend on God for strength to the end.