Proverbs 25:3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

◄ Proverbs 25:3 ►

New International Version
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

New Living Translation
No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind!

English Standard Version
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Berean Standard Bible
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

King James Bible
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

New King James Version
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

New American Standard Bible
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

NASB 1995
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

NASB 1977
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Legacy Standard Bible
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Amplified Bible
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the hearts and minds of kings are unsearchable.

Christian Standard Bible
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As the heaven is high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.

American Standard Version
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Contemporary English Version
Who can fully understand the thoughts of a ruler? They reach beyond the sky and go deep in the earth.

English Revised Version
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[Like] the high heavens and the deep earth, so the mind of kings is unsearchable.

Good News Translation
You never know what a king is thinking; his thoughts are beyond us, like the heights of the sky or the depths of the ocean.

International Standard Version
Just as the heavens are high and earth is deep, so the heart of a king is unfathomable.

Majority Standard Bible
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

NET Bible
As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

New Heart English Bible
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

Webster's Bible Translation
The heaven for hight, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

World English Bible
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, "" And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.

Young's Literal Translation
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings -- are unsearchable.

Smith's Literal Translation
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings not searched out.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.

New American Bible
Like the heavens in height, and the earth in depth, the heart of kings is unfathomable.

New Revised Standard Version
Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth, so the mind of kings is unsearchable.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of the king is unsearchable.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The Heavens are high and the Earth deep, and the heart of the King is unsearchable.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

More Proverbs of Solomon
…2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out. 3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched. 4Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

Psalm 145:3
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

Job 11:7-9
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? / They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? / Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

1 Corinthians 2:10-11
But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. / For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Psalm 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? / I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Daniel 2:22
He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.

Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

1 Timothy 6:15-16
which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time. / He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

Colossians 2:2-3
that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, / in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Job 5:9
the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.

Treasury of Scripture

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

heaven

Psalm 103:11
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Isaiah 7:11
Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.

Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

is unsearchable

1 Kings 4:29
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

1 Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Jump to Previous

Deep Depth Earth Heart Hearts Heaven Heavens Height High Hight Kings Mind Searched Unsearchable

Jump to Next

Deep Depth Earth Heart Hearts Heaven Heavens Height High Hight Kings Mind Searched Unsearchable

Proverbs 25

1. observations about kings
8. and about avoiding causes of quarrels

Berean Study Bible

As the heavens are high
This phrase draws a parallel between the vastness of the heavens and the inscrutability of a king's heart. In Hebrew, the word for "heavens" is "שָׁמַיִם" (shamayim), which often signifies not only the physical sky but also the spiritual realm. The height of the heavens suggests an infinite expanse, beyond human reach and understanding. This imagery reminds us of God's omniscience and the divine wisdom that surpasses human comprehension. In a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a reminder of the majesty and sovereignty of God, who alone can fully understand the depths of creation and the human heart.

and the earth is deep
The earth's depth, in Hebrew "אֶרֶץ" (erets), signifies the profound and often hidden nature of what lies beneath the surface. Just as the earth holds secrets in its depths, so too do the hearts of individuals, particularly those in positions of power. This depth can symbolize the complexity and mystery inherent in human nature and leadership. Historically, the earth's depth has been associated with wisdom and knowledge, often hidden and requiring effort to uncover. In a biblical context, this can be seen as an encouragement to seek wisdom diligently, recognizing that true understanding often requires divine insight.

so the hearts of kings
The "hearts of kings" refers to the inner thoughts, motives, and intentions of those in authority. In Hebrew, "לֵב" (lev) is the word for heart, often representing the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. Kings, as leaders, hold significant power and responsibility, and their decisions can have far-reaching consequences. The heart of a king, therefore, is of great importance, yet it remains elusive and complex. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this underscores the need for leaders to seek God's guidance and wisdom, acknowledging that human understanding is limited.

cannot be searched
This phrase emphasizes the inscrutability and mystery of a king's heart. The Hebrew root "חָקַר" (chaqar) means to search, investigate, or examine thoroughly. The inability to fully search or understand a king's heart highlights the limitations of human perception and judgment. It serves as a reminder that ultimate discernment belongs to God alone. In a conservative Christian context, this encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty and wisdom, recognizing that He alone can see and judge the true intentions of the heart. It also calls for humility and reliance on divine guidance in leadership and decision-making.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) The heart of kings is unsearchable.--A warning, it may be, against presuming upon the favour of a king from thinking that one knows all that is in his mind. (Comp. Proverbs 23:1-2.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - This proverb is connected with the preceding by the idea of "searching" (chakar) common to both. Such emblematic proverbs are common in this second collection (see Ver. 11). Three subjects are stated, of which is predicated the term unsearchable, viz. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings. As you can never rise to the illimitable height of the heavens, as you can never penetrate to the immeasurable depth of the earth, so you can never fathom the heart of a king, can never find out what he really thinks and intends (comp. Job 11:8). It may be that tacitly a warning is intended against flattering one's sell that one knows and can reckon on the favour of a king; his good disposition towards you may be only seeming, or may any moment become changed. The Septuagint has for "unsearchable" (חֵקֶר אֵין) ἀνεξέλεγκτος, "unquestionable." The commentators refer to a passage in Tacitus ('Ann.' 6:8), where M. Terentius defends himself for being a friend of Sejanus by the fact of the impossibility of investigating a great man's real sentiments. "To us," he says to Tiberius, "it appertains not to judge whom you exalt above all others and for what reason you do so. Facts which are obvious we all notice. We see who is the man upon whom you heap wealth and honours, who it is that has the chief power of dispensing rewards and punishments; that these were possessed by Sejanus no one can deny. But to pry into the hidden thoughts of a prince, and the designs which he meditates in secret, is unlawful and hazardous; nor would the attempt succeed."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

As the heavens
שָׁמַ֣יִם (šā·ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

are high
לָ֭רוּם (lā·rūm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7312: Height, haughtiness

and the earth
וָאָ֣רֶץ (wā·’ā·reṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

is deep,
לָעֹ֑מֶק (lā·‘ō·meq)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6011: Depth

so the hearts
וְלֵ֥ב (wə·lêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

of kings
מְ֝לָכִ֗ים (mə·lā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4428: A king

cannot
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

be searched.
חֵֽקֶר׃ (ḥê·qer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2714: A searching, a thing (to be) searched out

Links

Proverbs 25:3 NIV
Proverbs 25:3 NLT
Proverbs 25:3 ESV
Proverbs 25:3 NASB
Proverbs 25:3 KJV

Proverbs 25:3 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 25:3 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 25:3 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 25:3 French Bible
Proverbs 25:3 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 25:3 As the heavens for height and (Prov. Pro Pr)