Proverbs 17:3

Context

17:3 The crucible¹ is for refining² silver and the furnace³ is for gold,

likewise⁴ the Lord tests⁵ hearts.

Isaiah 31:9

Context

31:9 They will surrender their stronghold⁶ because of fear;⁷

their officers will be afraid of the Lord’s battle flag.”⁸

This is what the Lord says –

the one whose fire is in Zion,

whose firepot is in Jerusalem.⁹

Isaiah 48:10

Context

48:10 Look, I have refined you, but not as silver;

I have purified you¹⁰ in the furnace of misery.

[17:3] ¹sn The noun מַצְרֵף (matsref) means “a place or instrument for refining” (cf. ASV, NASB “the refining pot”). The related verb, which means “to melt, refine, smelt,” is used in scripture literally for refining and figuratively for the Lord’s purifying and cleansing and testing people.

[17:3] ²tn The term “refining” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the parallelism; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

[17:3] ³sn The term כּוּר (cur) describes a “furnace” or “smelting pot.” It can be used figuratively for the beneficial side of affliction (Isa 48:10).

[17:3] ⁴tn Heb “and.” Most English versions treat this as an adversative (“but”).

[17:3] ⁵sn The participle בֹּחֵן (bokhen, “tests”) in this emblematic parallelism takes on the connotations of the crucible and the furnace. When the Lord “tests” human hearts, the test, whatever form it takes, is designed to improve the value of the one being tested. Evil and folly will be removed when such testing takes place.

[31:9] ⁶tn Heb “rocky cliff” (cf. ASV, NASB “rock”), viewed metaphorically as a place of defense and security.

[31:9] ⁷tn Heb “His rocky cliff, because of fear, will pass away [i.e., “perish”].”

[31:9] ⁸tn Heb “and they will be afraid of the flag, his officers.”

[31:9] ⁹sn The “fire” and “firepot” here symbolize divine judgment, which is heating up like a fire in Jerusalem, waiting to be used against the Assyrians when they attack the city.

[48:10] ¹⁰tc The Hebrew text has בְּחַרְתִּיךָ (bÿkhartikha, “I have chosen you”), but the Qumran scroll 1QIsa^a reads correctly בחנתיכה (“I have tested you”). The metallurgical background of the imagery suggests that purification through testing is the idea.