Proverbs 25:4

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 25:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
Proverbs 25:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 25

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Take away the dross from the silver, etc.] By putting it into the furnace, and purging it from it: and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer; not out of the furnace, a vessel formed and shaped, but pure silver shall come out of it for the refiner; of which a vessel may be made, very honourable, beautiful, and fit for use: the application of it is in (<202505>Proverbs 25:5).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“As separating impurities from ore leaves pure silver, so taking from a king wicked counsellors leaves a wise and beneficent government.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Take away - Then, and not 'till then it is fit for that use. Proverbs 25:6”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“25:4-5 As silver is ready for use once it is refined of impurities, the king’s court can do justice when wicked people are removed. A little bit of evil can spoil much good (Eccl 10:1).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Pro 17:3; Isa 1:25-27; Mal 3:3; Ti2 2:20, Ti2 2:21; Pe1 1:7 Proverbs 25:5”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“There now follows an emblematic (vid., vol. i. p. 10) tetrastich: 4 Take away the dross from silver, So there is ready a vessel for the goldsmith; 5 Take away the wicked from the king, And his throne is established by righteousness. The form הגו (cf. the inf. Poal הגו, Isa 59:13) is regarded by Schultens as showing a ground-form הגו; but there is also found e.g., עשׂו, whose ground-form is עשׂי; the verb הגה, R. הג (whence Arab. hajr, discedere), cf. יגה (whence הגה, semovit, Sa2 20:13 = Syr. âwagy, cf. Arab. âwjay, to withhold, to abstain from), signifies to separate, withdraw; here, of the separation of the סיגים, the refuse, i.e., the dross (vid., regarding the plena scriptio, Baer's…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification