Proverbs 1:9
in Proverbs 1For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
KJV
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
⋯
This verse in Proverbs 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
To the Israelite’s mind no signs or badges of joy or glory were higher in worth than the garland around the head, the gold chain around the neck, worn by kings and the favorites of kings Gen 41:42; Dan 5:29.
This site's exposition
My son, hear the instruction of thy father
on Proverbs 1:8-9
My son opens the appeal that will run through the first nine chapters, addressed by a father but binding both parents' teaching, the law of thy mother named beside the father's instruction with equal authority. Ornament of grace and chains about thy neck picture wisdom as adornment, jewelry a child wears because it was given, not bought, and the image sets up the false chains of enticement in the verses just ahead. The address recurs some twenty-three times across these opening chapters, the book's own name for its reader.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
The church is not truly called the "pillar and foundation of truth" if it is found unsound in the most basic mystery of human salvation. But because it is truly called the "pillar and foundation of truth" by the apostle, whatever according to the canons …
Our Lord … offers us his hand, takes part in the struggle, and seemingly in every way hands over our adversary to us in defeat, striving might and main that we may prevail and wrest the victory, so that he may place on our head the unfading crown. Scripture says, remember, "You will receive a crown of graces upon your head." Whereas in the Olympic games the crown after victory is nothing more than a laurel wreath, or applause, or acclamation of the crowd, all of which disappears and is lost with the coming of evening, the crown for virtue and its struggles has nothing material about it. It is not subject to decay in this world but is everlasting, immortal, enduring for all ages.
A commentator
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 1:9 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
If you preserve in your faithful heart the law of your Father and observe the commands of your mother, you will receive the crown of graces on your head and the golden necklace in the resurrection of the righteous ones. You will be glorified in the heavenly and imperishable kingdom and crowned by Christ if you fight in a manner worthy of such a crown. No athlete is crowned unless such a person has contended strongly and legitimately.
A commentator
Didymus the BlindCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 1:8 · Written before 398.
proposed
God is Father of the righteous. Whoever practices justice was born from God. Our mother is the church, whose bridegroom is our Lord Jesus Christ. Our laws are the apostolic constitutions. Even though the concepts expressed above have a sublime meaning, they also apply to …
The Medieval Church1 voice
"That grace may be added to your head," etc. It was a custom among the ancients that those who competed lawfully would receive a crown on their head and a torque on their neck. Therefore, for us too, if we keep the discipline of our …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Through listening to paternal instruction and through observance of maternal law, grace is put on our head and a neck ring on our neck. For the more one gives heed to divine commands [and] strives to observe with greater diligence what one has learned in …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
He recommends this as that which is very graceful and will put an honour upon us: "The instructions and laws of thy parents, carefully observed and lived up to, shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,.... The instructions and laws of parents being attended unto and obeyed by children, render them more lovely and amiable than any beautiful ornament whatever that can be put upon their heads; and chains about thy neck; be that unto them as chains of gold are to the neck, beautify and adorn them; so good works, done in obedience to God and parents, are ornaments of great price, and preferable to any outward adorning whatever; see 1Ti 2:
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
An ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains - That is, filial respect and obedience will be as ornamental to thee as crowns, diadems, and golden chains and pearls are to others. Political dignity has been distinguished in many nations by a chain of gold about the neck. Solomon seems here to intimate, if we follow the metaphor, that the surest way of coming to distinguished eminence, in civil matters, is to act according to the principles of true wislom, proceeding from the fear of God.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י׀ | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| לִוְיַ֤ת | livyat | [will be] a wreath of | H3880 → | |
| חֵ֓ן | chen | favor | H2580 → | 69 times |
| הֵ֬ם | hem | they | H1992 → | 553 times |
| לְרֹאשֶׁ֑ךָ | leroshekha | for head your | H7218 → | 599 times |
| וַ֝עֲנָקִ֗ים | vaanakim | and necklaces | H6060 → | |
| לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶֽיךָ׃ | legargeroteikha | for neck your | H1621 → | 4 times |
כִּ֤י׀for
kiH3588 →4482 times
לִוְיַ֤ת[will be] a wreath of
livyatH3880 →
חֵ֓ןfavor
chenH2580 →69 times
הֵ֬םthey
hemH1992 →553 times
לְרֹאשֶׁ֑ךָfor head your
leroshekhaH7218 →599 times
וַ֝עֲנָקִ֗יםand necklaces
vaanakimH6060 →
לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶֽיךָ׃for neck your
legargeroteikhaH1621 →4 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 41:42Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.
it leads to
- Daniel 5:7
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Daniel 5:29
Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
- Esther 3:10
So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
- Daniel 5:7
Through
Daniel 5:29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
it leads to
- Daniel 5:16
But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Daniel 5:16
Through
Proverbs 3:22They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
it leads to
- Proverbs 4:22
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
- Isaiah 38:16
O Lord, by such things men live, and in all of them my spirit finds life. You have restored me to health and have let me live.
- Proverbs 4:22
Through
Proverbs 4:9She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:4
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
- Hebrews 2:7–9
You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor
- 1 Peter 5:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Proverbs
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 1:19; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Didymus the Blind, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 1:8; Fulgentius of Ruspe, LETTER TO FERRANDUS 12:21-22; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 42:4; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 1:9; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.