Proverbs 4:4-8

4 Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom. Though it cost all you have,^[b] get understanding.

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

Proverbs 4:4-8 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

• 1. S 1 Kings 9:4
• 2. Proverbs 7:2
• 3. S Proverbs 2:12; Proverbs 3:13-18; Proverbs 16:16
• 4. 2 Thessalonians 2:10
• 5. S Proverbs 2:11
• 6. Matthew 13:44-46
• 7. Proverbs 23:23
• 8. 1 Samuel 2:30; S Proverbs 3:18

Footnotes

• [a] Or "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get"
• [b] Or "wisdom. / Whatever else you get"