Proverbs 17:3

With the Hebrew beneath

Proverbs 17:3, word by word

The crucibleמַצְרֵףmatsref

crucible

A crucible: the vessel in which metal is melted and refined.

Where else “matsref” appears

is for silverכֶּסֶףkesef

silver

A white, valuable metal, the one most used after gold.

Where else “kesef” appears

and the furnaceכוּרchur

furnace

Furnace: a furnace for smelting metals. "Iron furnace" is an image of very harsh suffering.

Where else “chur” appears

for goldזָּהָבzahav

gold

Gold.

Where else “zahav” appears

but the one who testsבֹחֵןvochen

test, examine

Test, examine to find out whether something is true or genuine, as metal is tested.

Where else “vochen” appears

heartsלִבּוֹתlibot

heart

Heart (another form of the same word): the center of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.

Where else “libot” appears

is YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

The context