Proverbs 4:1-6

A Father's Instruction

1 Hear, O sons, the 1instruction of a father, And 2give attention that you may gain understanding,
2 For I give you sound 3teaching; 4Do not abandon my instruction.
3 When I was a son to my father, 5Tender and 6the only son in the sight of my mother,
4 Then he 7taught me and said to me, "Let your heart 8hold fast my words; 9Keep my commandments and live;
5 10Acquire wisdom! 11Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; 12Love her, and she will watch over you.

Proverbs 4:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 4

In this chapter Solomon advises to seek after wisdom, to avoid bad company, and to continue in the right paths of goodness and truth: he excites attention to what he had to say, from the relation he stood in to the persons addressed; from the nature of his instructions, which were good and profitable; and from his own example, in attending to those his parents gave him, Pr 4:1-4; He exhorts above all things to get wisdom, from the superior excellency of it, and from the preservation, promotion, and honour, to be had by it, Pr 4:5-9; and he further enforces big exhortations, from their being the means of a comfortable life, and of the prolongation of it, and of leading in a right way without straitness or stumbling, Pr 4:10-13. And then proceeds to caution against bad company, and going into a bad way of life; which is enforced from the mischief done by those that walk in it, and from the darkness of it, to which the path of the just is opposed, Pr 4:14-19. And the exhortation to attend to and observe his instructions, and keep them, is repeated, from the consideration of their being life and health to them, Pr 4:20-22; and that they might be preserved, and not departed from, direction's are given about ordering the heart, mouth, lips, eyes, and feet, Pr 4:23-27.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Psalms 34:11; Proverbs 1:8
  • 2. Proverbs 1:2; Proverbs 2:2
  • 3. Deuteronomy 32:2; Job 11:4
  • 4. Psalms 89:30; Psalms 119:87; Proverbs 3:1
  • 5. 1 Chronicles 22:5; 1 Chronicles 29:1
  • 6. Zechariah 12:10
  • 7. Ephesians 6:4
  • 8. Psalms 119:168
  • 9. Proverbs 7:2
  • 10. Proverbs 4:7
  • 11. Proverbs 16:16
  • 12. 2 Thessalonians 2:10

Footnotes 3

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