Proverbs 4:3-13

3 When I was a son with my father, 1tender, 2the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he 3taught me and said to me, 4"Let your heart hold fast my words; 5keep my commandments, and live.
5 6Get wisdom; get 7insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; 8love her, and she will guard you.
7 9The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get 10insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will 11honor you 12if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head 13a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."
10 14Hear, 15my son, and accept my words, that 16the years of your life may be many.
11 I have 17taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, 18your step will not be hampered, and 19if you run, you will not stumble.
13 20Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your 21life.

Proverbs 4:3-13 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 21

  • 1. See 1 Chronicles 22:5
  • 2. Zechariah 12:10
  • 3. 1 Chronicles 28:9; [Ephesians 6:4]
  • 4. [Proverbs 3:1]
  • 5. Proverbs 7:2; Leviticus 18:5; Isaiah 55:3
  • 6. Proverbs 2:2
  • 7. [See ver. 1 above]
  • 8. [2 Thessalonians 2:10]
  • 9. [Proverbs 1:7]
  • 10. [See ver. 1 above]
  • 11. 1 Samuel 2:30
  • 12. [Song of Songs 2:6]
  • 13. Proverbs 1:9
  • 14. [See ver. 1 above]
  • 15. Proverbs 2:1
  • 16. See Proverbs 3:2
  • 17. See 1 Samuel 12:23
  • 18. [Job 18:7; Psalms 18:36; Psalms 119:45]
  • 19. Proverbs 3:23
  • 20. Proverbs 3:18
  • 21. ver. 22; [John 1:4; 1 John 5:12]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.