Introduction
Verse 5 is the 'then' that answers the long 'if' of vv. 1-4 — if you receive, treasure, incline, cry, seek, and search — then this is what you find: the fear of the LORD and the knowledge of God. The fear of the LORD is not the starting line of wisdom (1:7) only; it is also the prize at the end of the search.
Historical Context
Solomon writes as a father to a son, framing wisdom as a treasure hunt. The 'fear of the LORD' was the bedrock of Hebrew piety — reverent awe that shapes every other thought and action.
Original Language Insights
'Find' (matsa) — the language of discovery, like striking ore in a mine. Seeking is not its own reward in Proverbs; finding is.
'Knowledge' (da'at) — relational, experiential acquaintance, not mere data.
Theological Significance
The fear of the LORD is both the beginning (1:7) and the deepening fruit (2:5) of wisdom. The more you know God, the more you reverence Him; the more you reverence Him, the more you know.
Practical Application
If reverence feels stale, you may be reading about God rather than seeking Him. Cry, search, dig — fear and knowledge are the treasure waiting at the bottom of the mine.