Proverbs 22:6

6 Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won't depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go
As Abraham trained up his children, and those born in his house, in the way of the Lord, in the paths of justice and judgment; which are the ways in which they should go, and which will be to their profit and advantage; see ( Genesis 14:14 ) ( 18:19 ) ; and which is the duty of parents and masters in all ages, and under the present Gospel dispensation, even to bring such who are under their care in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, ( Ephesians 6:4 ) ; by praying with them and for them, by bringing them under the means of grace, the ministry of the word, by instructing them in the principles of religion, teaching them their duty to God and man, and setting them good examples of a holy life and conversation; and this is to be done according to their capacity, and as they are able to understand and receive the instructions given them: "according to the mouth of his way" ^F19, as it may be literally rendered; as soon as he is able to speak or go, even from his infancy; or as children are fed by little bits, or a little at a time, as their mouths can receive it; and when he is old he will not depart from it;
not easily, nor ordinarily; there are exceptions to this observation; but generally, where there is a good education, the impressions of it do not easily wear off, nor do men ordinarily forsake a good way they have been brought up in ^F20; and, however, when, being come to years of maturity and understanding, their hearts are seasoned with the grace of God, they are then enabled to put that in practice which before they had only in theory, and so continue in the paths of truth and holiness.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (wkrd yp le) "super os viae suae", Montanus; "ad os viae ejus", Schultens.
F20 "Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem testa diu", Horat. l. 1. Ep. 2. v. 69.

Proverbs 22:6 In-Context

4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.

5 Thorns and nets are in the path of the crooked; those who guard their lives keep their distance.

6 Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won't depart from it.

7 The wealthy rule over the poor; a borrower is a slave to a lender.

8 Those who sow injustice will harvest evil; the rod of their fury will come to an end.