Proverbs 4:3

3 When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,

Proverbs 4:3 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 4:3

For I was my father's son
Or, "a son to my father" ^F16; so Solomon was to God, his heavenly Father, ( 2 Samuel 7:14 ) ; which Jarchi observes, and gives as the sense of this place: but his father David is meant, whose son he was; though he was not his only one, he had others besides him. But the sense is, that he was his darling, his beloved son, whom he loved above the rest; as he was beloved of the Lord, and therefore his name was called Jedidiah, so he was beloved of his father; and, because he had a peculiar love for him, he took a particular care of his education; tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother;
his mother Bathsheba, who had a most affectionate regard to him; and therefore in his tender age, as soon as he was susceptible of instructions, gave them to him, which being received, made deep and lasting impressions on him; see ( Proverbs 31:1 Proverbs 31:2 ) . The marginal reading is, "to the sons of my mother"; for Bathsheba had more sons, ( 1 Chronicles 3:5 ) ; both readings may be retained, "beloved in the sight of my mother's sons". Gersom interprets this of the people of Israel, who were sons to God their Father; and were the only nation that received the law, and which they received at the time of their coming out of Egypt, in the days of their youth.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (ybal ytyyh Nb) "filius fui patri meo", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Cocceius, Schultens.

Proverbs 4:3 In-Context

1 Listen, [my] sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

2 for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching.

3 When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,

4 he taught me and said: "Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.