For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
The verse prices wisdom the way a merchant prices cargo — against silver, against fine gold — and the trade is one-sided. Two questions follow: what is this wisdom, and how does a person come to hold it?
The verse uses the language of buying, selling and profit. One story acts it out: the queen of Sheba came to Solomon to trade for wisdom.
She trafficked for wisdom, and the Lord's anointed king in Jerusalem was her merchant. With him, and for it, she bartered gold, and spice, and precious stones. In the spirit of her mind she was a true disciple of that word: "the merchandise of wisdom is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain from it than fine gold." Yet she knew nothing of it in the book of God. And the Lord will not be her debtor. He gives her far more than she had bargained for.
Older English translations call the verse's "gain" its "merchandise."
The verse calls wisdom "her." One writer reads that pronoun in the light of what the New Testament says about Christ:
We respond gladly to verse 13 when we remember that wisdom is personified in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:24), and that "Christ Jesus … became for us wisdom from God" (1 Corinthians 1:30). Wealth, including rubies or anything of earthly value, has no comparison to "her." The feminine word points to wisdom as it is in the believer — that is, "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
So how does a person get this profit? Not by earning it, but by asking God — and Solomon had proved that himself:
A later revelation tells us that God gives generously to all, without reproach. Yet we must ask Him for it — not that anyone adds to Him, or that He owes anything to a man's hand. But He cannot deny Himself. That is what it would mean if someone found wisdom or got understanding anywhere else. The blessing comes through dependence on Him. Who of mankind knew this better than Solomon himself? Did not God say to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life, or riches, or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word."
The same writer asks whether God is any less generous now, and whether this blessing reaches small daily matters too:
Is He less accessible, or less gracious, now that He is revealed as Christ's Father and our Father, His God and our God? Has He not poured out on us all wisdom and prudence, of the highest character and the largest hope? And if He gives for the greatest things, does such blessing fail for the least things day by day? How true it is that "the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold."
What is this wisdom, and what does holding it feel like day by day?
This is the Lord's mind. Happy is the man who finds it, with his thoughts ordered by understanding — that is, by what God communicates of His mind, and not by man's will. In verses 14 and 15 He compares her to earthly treasures, yet blessing even in this world goes with it. But it is more than outward blessing. It is a path of quietness and peace of spirit, and of cheerfulness of heart. Nothing lies on the conscience, and the heart is free to enjoy. There are no unsatisfied desires, but free affections; no restless will, but the sense of divine favour.
One last gain. Time spent thinking about Christ pays now and for ever:
We waste no time when thinking of Jesus, for every thought of Him yields present delight and is of eternal value. All the wisdom that the minds of men can produce will pass like smoke. But every thought of Him given by the Holy Spirit will remain a priceless possession for ever. It is the understanding of Him which "is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain from it than fine gold."
- The currency — The verse talks trade. Weigh wisdom against silver and fine gold, and wisdom wins.
- The merchant — Sheba brought her gold to Solomon and left with more than she bargained for. God will not stay in anyone's debt.
- The price — You ask for it; you cannot buy it. Solomon asked for understanding, not riches, and the blessing came through depending on God.
- The dividend — God pays the return now: quietness, peace of spirit, a clear conscience, no restless will.
- The maturity — Human wisdom passes like smoke. Every thought of Christ the Spirit gives stays a priceless possession for ever.
She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.
This verse weighs wisdom against precious jewels. Then it goes further and weighs wisdom against everything a person could want. Commentators ask two questions here. What is this "wisdom" that is worth so much? And why does nothing else come close?
One writer takes the jewels as the highest value on earth. Then he names what is worth more — God's own favour:
How true that "the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold." We can say that the wisdom that comes down from above is more precious than jewels. Nothing a person can desire equals the rich gift of God's favour.
The "her" in this verse is not just a quality. Writers link the wisdom of Proverbs to a person — and to that person living inside the believer:
Verse 13 says, "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding." We will gladly agree if we remember two things. Wisdom is pictured as a person in Christ (1 Cor. 1:24). And "Christ Jesus … became to us wisdom from God" (1 Cor. 1:30). Of course, "the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold" (v. 14). No wealth — jewels or anything else of value on earth — compares with "her." Proverbs speaks of wisdom as "she" to show wisdom at work inside a person, that is, "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Gold and jewels have real value. But that value does not last. One writer sets what passes against what remains:
We waste no time when thinking of Jesus, for every thought of Him yields present delight and is of eternal value. All the wisdom that human minds can produce will pass like smoke. But every thought of Him that the Holy Spirit gives will remain a priceless possession forever. Understanding Him is what "is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her" (Prov. 3:14-15).
The second half of the verse says more than "wisdom is worth more." It says that wanting anything else falls away. One writer describes the settled state of a person who walks with God:
In verses 14 and 15, He compares her to treasures on earth. Blessing in this world goes with her. But it is more than outward blessing. It is a path of quietness, peace of spirit, and cheerfulness of heart. Nothing weighs on the conscience, and the heart is free to enjoy. There are no unsatisfied desires, but free affections. There is no restless will, but the sense of God's favour.
The same writer compares this verse with the one before it:
The two words used here go further than verse 13. There she was a treasure that people searched for. Here she is held fast — what the soul keeps, values, and is kept in.
If wisdom is worth more than jewels, it deserves the effort people give to getting rich. One writer also says where wisdom comes from:
The search always calls for steadiness, endurance, and firm resolve. From that the Holy Spirit draws a lesson that can never disappoint. "If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God." This turns man's dream of education upside down. Man is proud of his own acquisitions. "For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth [not from man's mind or heart] come knowledge and understanding." Where do we find what His mouth gives, if not in His Word?
Applied to the wealth people actually chase, the same conclusion holds in plain terms:
Natural wealth, such as gold and silver (v. 16) is considered by men to be of supreme importance, so that they strive to make themselves more wealthy than others, and wisdom is forgotten.
- Priced. Jewels mark the top of what money can buy. This verse puts wisdom above that ceiling — and above everything desire can name.
- Named. Commentators link the wisdom pictured here with Christ. So the treasure on the scales is a person, not a skill.
- Lasting. Silver and gold pass away. Thoughts of Him stay a priceless possession forever.
- Satisfying. Wisdom brings peace of spirit, a clear conscience, free affections, and no unsatisfied desires. That is why nothing else is wanted.
- Sought. Search for wisdom with the drive people put into making money. But expect to receive it as a gift from God through His Word, not as your own achievement.