What Does Proverbs 2:3 Mean in the King James?
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The “knowledge” you cry for and the “understanding” you voice grow from one Hebrew root: discernment.
THE MEANING
The verse presents discernment as something you seek aloud: you cry toward insight and give your voice to it. What is sought is more than information; it is the ability to distinguish what is true and meaningful.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that you must already understand before you can ask for understanding dissolves here: the call comes first.
THE ROOT
בִּינָה
binah
GROWS FROM
בין
b-y-n
To discern, distinguish, or perceive.
The word rendered “knowledge” is binah, while “understanding” is tevunah; both grow from the same root of discernment. English gives them separate labels, while Hebrew links them as two expressions of learning to distinguish.
ALSO GROWS
tevunah: Discernment, understanding.
תְּבוּנָה
This is the related word translated “understanding” in the same verse, tying both requests to one root.
hevin: To understand, perceive, or discern.
הֵבִין
The verb shows the root as an active capacity to make distinctions, not merely to store facts.
תִּתֵּן קוֹלֶךָ
titten qolekha
GROWS FROM
נתן
n-t-n
To give, set, or place.
The Hebrew literally says “give your voice”; the KJV renders the phrase “liftest up thy voice.” The voice is given toward understanding, making the search an act of placing one’s speech there.
ALSO GROWS
natan: To give, set, or place.
נָתַן
This is the verb used in the verse: the voice is given toward discernment.
mattanah: Gift, something given.
מַתָּנָה
This related form makes the verse’s phrasing vivid: the voice is something offered or given in the search for understanding.
תִּקְרָא
tiqra
GROWS FROM
קרא
q-r-ʾ
To call, cry out, or proclaim.
“criest” in this verse is tiqra. The search begins with a call: understanding is addressed before it is possessed. Together with giving the voice, this makes the pursuit of discernment spoken and directed.
ALSO GROWS
qeri'ah: Calling or reading aloud.
קְרִיאָה
The related noun keeps the voice in the root’s range: calling is a spoken act.
miqra: Reading or assembly, a called gathering.
מִקְרָא
This branch links calling with gathering attention around what is being heard.
THE PATTERN
Discernment opens through voiced seeking: what is not yet understood is called toward and asked for.
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.THE THREAD
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?“Understanding” is tevunah in both verses, from the root בין (b-y-n), discernment. In Proverbs 2:3, you give your voice toward understanding; here, understanding raises her own voice toward you.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
You can read any verse this way in the app, keep it as a card, and send it on.
A Bible app where you send verses from your keyboard and in Messages, and every verse has a Deep Dive.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us