2 esdras 7:58 - And I said, O Lord that bear rule, that which is plentiful is of less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious.
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What does "2 esdras 7:58" mean?
This verse from 2 Esdras 7:58 reflects a common philosophical idea: scarcity increases value. It essentially says that things that are abundant and easy to obtain are considered less valuable than things that are rare and difficult to acquire.
Let's break it down:
"And I said, O Lord that bear rule..." This sets the context as a prayer or statement made to God. Esdras is speaking to the divine authority.
"...that which is plentiful is of less worth..." This is the core of the verse. "Plentiful" refers to things that are abundant, easily found, or readily available. These things are considered to have less value. Think of water in a place with a plentiful supply versus water in a desert.
"...for that which is more rare is more precious." This explains why plentiful things are less valuable. "Rare" refers to things that are scarce, difficult to find, or hard to obtain. The verse asserts that these things are considered "more precious," meaning more valuable, desirable, and appreciated.
The meaning in context (2 Esdras 7):
This verse appears in a larger section of 2 Esdras where Esdras is questioning God about the seeming unfairness of the world. He's grappling with the problem of why the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. This verse highlights a principle that applies to more than just material possessions. In the context of the book, it can be interpreted as:
Heavenly rewards: The blessings of salvation and eternal life are difficult to attain and therefore are extremely precious, as opposed to the fleeting pleasures of the earthly life, which are plentiful but ultimately less valuable.
Truth and wisdom: True wisdom and understanding are rare and hard to come by, making them far more valuable than ignorance and superficial knowledge, which are widespread.
Virtue and righteousness: A righteous life is more difficult to live than a life of sin, making virtue and righteousness more precious in God's eyes.
In essence, the verse is a simple statement about the relationship between scarcity and value, but in the broader context of 2 Esdras, it serves as a meditation on the deeper values of life and the divine economy, where things that are harder to achieve, like righteousness and salvation, hold the greatest worth.
2 esdras 7:58 - And I said, O Lord that bear rule, that which is plentiful is of less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious.
What does "2 esdras 7:58" mean?
This verse from 2 Esdras 7:58 reflects a common philosophical idea: scarcity increases value. It essentially says that things that are abundant and easy to obtain are considered less valuable than things that are rare and difficult to acquire.
Let's break it down:
"And I said, O Lord that bear rule..." This sets the context as a prayer or statement made to God. Esdras is speaking to the divine authority.
"...that which is plentiful is of less worth..." This is the core of the verse. "Plentiful" refers to things that are abundant, easily found, or readily available. These things are considered to have less value. Think of water in a place with a plentiful supply versus water in a desert.
"...for that which is more rare is more precious." This explains why plentiful things are less valuable. "Rare" refers to things that are scarce, difficult to find, or hard to obtain. The verse asserts that these things are considered "more precious," meaning more valuable, desirable, and appreciated.
The meaning in context (2 Esdras 7):
This verse appears in a larger section of 2 Esdras where Esdras is questioning God about the seeming unfairness of the world. He's grappling with the problem of why the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. This verse highlights a principle that applies to more than just material possessions. In the context of the book, it can be interpreted as:
Heavenly rewards: The blessings of salvation and eternal life are difficult to attain and therefore are extremely precious, as opposed to the fleeting pleasures of the earthly life, which are plentiful but ultimately less valuable.
Truth and wisdom: True wisdom and understanding are rare and hard to come by, making them far more valuable than ignorance and superficial knowledge, which are widespread.
Virtue and righteousness: A righteous life is more difficult to live than a life of sin, making virtue and righteousness more precious in God's eyes.
In essence, the verse is a simple statement about the relationship between scarcity and value, but in the broader context of 2 Esdras, it serves as a meditation on the deeper values of life and the divine economy, where things that are harder to achieve, like righteousness and salvation, hold the greatest worth.