The Meaning of Proverbs 2:3 Explained

Proverbs 2:3

KJV: Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

YLT: For, if for intelligence thou callest, For understanding givest forth thy voice,

Darby: yea, if thou criest after discernment and liftest up thy voice to understanding;

ASV: Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yea, if thou criest  after knowledge,  [and] liftest up  thy voice  for understanding; 

What does Proverbs 2:3 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 2:3 mean?

Yes if for discernment you cry out for understanding [And] lift up your voice
כִּ֤י אִ֣ם לַבִּינָ֣ה תִקְרָ֑א לַ֝תְּבוּנָ֗ה תִּתֵּ֥ן קוֹלֶֽךָ

כִּ֤י  Yes 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
לַבִּינָ֣ה  for  discernment 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בִּינָה  
Sense: understanding, discernment.
תִקְרָ֑א  you  cry  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
לַ֝תְּבוּנָ֗ה  for  understanding 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּבוּנָה 
Sense: understanding, intelligence.
תִּתֵּ֥ן  [And]  lift  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
קוֹלֶֽךָ  your  voice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.