The Meaning of Proverbs 17:3 Explained

Proverbs 17:3

KJV: The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

YLT: A refining pot is for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts is Jehovah.

Darby: The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.

ASV: The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The fining pot  [is] for silver,  and the furnace  for gold:  but the LORD  trieth  the hearts. 

What does Proverbs 17:3 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 17

1  Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked

What do the individual words in Proverbs 17:3 mean?

The refining pot [is] for silver and the furnace for gold but tests the hearts Yahweh
מַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וּבֹחֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה

מַצְרֵ֣ף  The  refining  pot  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַצְרֵף  
Sense: crucible.
לַ֭כֶּסֶף  for  silver 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
וְכ֣וּר  and  the  furnace 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כּוּר  
Sense: furnace, forge, smelting furnace or pot v.
לַזָּהָ֑ב  for  gold 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָהָב  
Sense: gold.
וּבֹחֵ֖ן  but  tests 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּחַן  
Sense: to examine, try, prove.
לִבּ֣וֹת  the  hearts 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לִבָּה  
Sense: heart.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.