Proverbs 4:7
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
In Proverbs 4 a father passes down the very counsel his own father gave him; verse 7 distills that inheritance into a single priority -- get wisdom above all else.
What Does Proverbs 4:7 Mean?
Above everything else you could acquire in life, pursue wisdom. This verse states wisdom's supreme value with memorable force. The word "principal" means first in rank and importance -- wisdom outranks wealth, status, and every other gain. Because it is supreme, the command follows naturally: "get wisdom."
The verse uses the language of acquisition deliberately. People spend their lives "getting" things -- money, possessions, advantages. This proverb redirects that drive: "with all thy getting get understanding." Whatever else you pursue, do not fail to pursue this. The repetition of "get" presses the point that wisdom does not arrive by accident; it must be sought, valued, and acquired like a treasure worth any cost. Notice that wisdom and understanding are named together. Wisdom (chokmah) is skill in living rightly; understanding (binah) is the discernment to grasp how things truly are. Both must be sought with intention. The verse assumes a person of limited time and energy who must decide where to invest, and it answers plainly: invest first in becoming wise. Everything else gained without understanding can be mishandled, but wisdom multiplies the value of all the rest. It is the one acquisition that makes every other acquisition safe and good.
In the Original Language
"Principal" renders re'shit, first or chief in rank. "Understanding" is binah, discernment -- the ability to distinguish and grasp how things truly are.
Cross References
“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!”
- Proverbs 16:16
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
- Matthew 6:33
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
- Colossians 2:3
Application
Make the pursuit of wisdom your top priority, investing time and effort to gain understanding above wealth, status, or other achievements.