Proverbs 2:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Seeking wisdom requires passionate, vocal pursuit—calling out for it like one cries for help.
The Context of Proverbs 2:3
The intensity of pursuit required for true wisdom.
What Does Proverbs 2:3 Mean?
Crying after knowledge uses the language of urgent need and intensity. This is not casual interest but earnest, even desperate desire. Lifting up the voice externally expresses what is burning internally.
The metaphor of crying—used for prayer, distress, and urgent appeal—suggests that understanding is worth pursuing with the same energy one brings to matters of survival or urgent need.
Proverbs 2:3 in the Original Language
qara (קָרָא), 'cry after' — to call out, summon, or appeal to.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 2:3
What does Proverbs 2:3 mean?
Seeking wisdom requires passionate, vocal pursuit—calling out for it like one cries for help.
What is the context of Proverbs 2:3?
The intensity of pursuit required for true wisdom.