The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
The words of the Lord - His promise in Psalms 12:5. The ulterior truth designed by the Spirit is not restricted to this promise, but extends to all God's words, whether of promise or threatening. They all alike (are) "pure words" - i:e., without mixture of error; not like impure ore from which the earth and dross must be removed.
As silver tried in a furnace of earth. Hengstenberg, with Aben Ezra, translates, '(They are) purified silver of a lord of the earth;' not for common use. The Lord's words to man's word are what a prince's silver is to common silver. х ba`ªliyl (H5948) laa'aarets (H776). The Hebrew letter beth (b) is a radical: the last syllable in baa`al is reduplicated. Instead of haa'aarets, the laa'aarets is substituted, 'of A lord of the earth.' The laa- marks indefiniteness in the preceding noun. The form 'ªliyl, from `aalal (H5953), to work, would not express a workshop or "furnace," but an adjective. Nor can laa'aarets (H776) denote the earth as the material of the furnace, because 'adªmaah (H126) would be used to express that]. The Chaldaic agrees with the English version.
Purified seven times - i:e., perfectly: seven being the perfect number. Compare Psalms 18:30.