Bible Strands
Proverbs 27:21
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The sage addresses a general listener within the book of Proverbs, using a familiar metallurgical process to illustrate character assessment.
The words — The text employs מַצְרֵף (matzeref), meaning a crucible, and לְפִי (lefi), meaning to the mouth of or according to, to frame praise as a measuring instrument.
The thread — The same refining imagery appears in Proverbs 17:3, Zechariah 13:9, and Psalms 66:10, where divine testing replaces human evaluation.
Why it lands — The verse states that a person's character is revealed through the praise they receive, asking the reader to examine how human approval exposes inner motives rather than concealing them.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 17:3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
- Zechariah 13:9 This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”
- Psalms 66:10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.
- Malachi 3:3 And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
- 1 Peter 1:7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Samuel 18:7 And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
- 1 Samuel 18:15 When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.
- 1 Samuel 18:30 Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.
- 2 Samuel 14:25 Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.
- 2 Samuel 15:6 Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.