Proverbs 4:4

4 He would sit me down and drill me: "Take this to heart. Do what I tell you - live!

Proverbs 4:4 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 4:4

He taught me also, and said unto me
The Targum is,

``they taught me,''

his father and his mother; and so the Septuagint version,

``who said and taught me;''

and the Arabic version,

``they both taught me, and said unto me;''

but in the Hebrew it is singular, and is restrained to the father. He taught him when he was very young, and also gave him instructions when he was older, and a little before his own death; see ( 1 Chronicles 28:8 1 Chronicles 28:9 ) ( 29:1 ) ; he taught him by the several psalms he wrote; some of which are called "maschil", instructive or causing to understand; two of them particularly were written for him, the seventy-second and the hundred twenty-seventh psalms; he taught him in the following words. How far the words of David his father reach is not agreed on, on all hands; some think they end with ( Proverbs 4:5 ) ; others with ( Proverbs 4:6 ) , others with the ( Proverbs 4:9 ) , and the words of Solomon begin at ( Proverbs 4:10 ) : some will have it that they take in the whole chapter, which is not probable; nay, others say that the whole of the book following is his, which can by no means be agreed to: it seems most likely to me that they end at ( Proverbs 4:6 ) , and at most are not to be carried beyond ( Proverbs 4:9 ) ; let thine heart retain my words:
says David to his son: the instructions he gave him by word of mouth, concerning his moral behaviour, relating to political things, the government of the people; and especially such as concerned the everlasting welfare of his soul, or were about Wisdom or Christ, and the knowledge of divine and spiritual things; these he would have him lay up in his heart, and keep them there, as a rich treasure, to have recourse unto upon all occasions; keep my commandments, and live:
which commandments may respect him both in his private and public capacity, and in a religious and political one; how he should behave as a man, a king, and one that feared God: as well as they may respect his orders for the building of the temple, and settling and establishing the worship of God in it; by observing which he would live comfortably and honourably, and to a good old age.

Proverbs 4:4 In-Context

2 I'm giving you good counsel; don't let it go in one ear and out the other.

3 When I was a boy at my father's knee, the pride and joy of my mother,

4 He would sit me down and drill me: "Take this to heart. Do what I tell you - live!

5 Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don't forget one word! Don't deviate an inch!

6 Never walk away from Wisdom - she guards your life; love her - she keeps her eye on you.