Proverbs 4:9
in Proverbs 4She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.
KJV
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
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This verse in Proverbs 4
Commentary
7 notes on this verseShe shall give to thine head an ornament of grace,.... This, and the following clause, explain what that honour is Christ promotes and brings his followers to here and hereafter: he gives them grace and more grace; "an increase of grace", so the Vulgate Latin version renders it; and some think James refers to this passage, Pro 4:
This site's exposition
forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth
on Proverbs 4:5-9
Wisdom is personified as a bride to be gotten and embraced, exalted so that she in turn exalts the one who holds her fast. The ornament of grace and the crown of glory promised in verse nine read as court language, the very honors a king bestows, and the commentators note that this fits a father instructing a son born to reign. Forsake her not is paired with love her, so that the pursuit of wisdom becomes as much affection as duty.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
It will bestow ornament of grace on your head, etc. It is clear from Solomon, because while he despised all for the sake of wisdom, having received wisdom, he shone with greater exaltation of glory. But even for our head, that is, the principal part …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
): " She shall give to thy head an ornament of grace in this world, shall recommend thee both to God and man, and in the other world a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee, a crown that shall never totter, a crown of glory that shall never wither." That is the true honour which attends religion. Nobilitas sola est atique unica virtus--Virtue is the only nobility!
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
(1.) By way of precept and exhortation. David, in teaching his son, though he was a child of great capacity and quick apprehension, yet to show that he was in good earnest, and to affect his child the more with what he said, expressed himself with great warmth and importunity, and inculcated the same thing again and again.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
ornament--such as the chaplet or wreath of conquerors. deliver--(Compare Ge 14:20). The allusion to a shield, contained in the Hebrew, suggests protection as well as honor (compare Pr 4:6).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A crown of glory - A tiara, diadem, or crown, shall not be more honorable to the princely wearer, than sound wisdom - true religion - coupled with deep learning, shall be to the Christian and the scholar.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| תִּתֵּ֣ן | titen | she will put | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| לְ֭רֹאשְׁךָ | leroshekha | to head your | H7218 → | 599 times |
| לִוְיַת־ | livyat- | a wreath of | H3880 → | |
| חֵ֑ן | chen | grace | H2580 → | 69 times |
| עֲטֶ֖רֶת | ʾateret | a crown of | H5850 → | 23 times |
| תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת | tiferet | beauty | H8597 → | 51 times |
| תְּמַגְּנֶֽךָּ׃ | temageneka | she will give you | H4042 → |
תִּתֵּ֣ןshe will put
titenH5414 →2011 times
לְ֭רֹאשְׁךָto head your
leroshekhaH7218 →599 times
לִוְיַת־a wreath of
livyat-H3880 →
חֵ֑ןgrace
chenH2580 →69 times
עֲטֶ֖רֶתa crown of
ʾateretH5850 →23 times
תִּפְאֶ֣רֶתbeauty
tiferetH8597 →51 times
תְּמַגְּנֶֽךָּ׃she will give you
temagenekaH4042 →
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
1 Peter 5:4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
it leads to
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- 1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
- Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
- 2 Timothy 4:8
From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who…
- James 1:12
Through
Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
- Leviticus 19:32
You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
- Proverbs 3:1–2
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
- Proverbs 20:29
Through
Proverbs 1:9For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
it leads to
- 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.
- Daniel 5:29
Where this verse is studied
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About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.