Proverbs 1:8
in Proverbs 1Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
KJV
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
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This verse in Proverbs 1
Commentary
11 notes on this verseMy son, hear - Father was the title of preceptor, and son, that of disciple or scholar, among the Jews. But here the reference appears to be to the children of a family; the father and the mother have the principal charge, in the first instance, of their children’s instruction. It is supposed that these parents have, themselves, the fear of the Lord, and that they are capable of giving the best counsel to their children, and that they set before them a strict example of all godly living.
This site's exposition
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
on Proverbs 1:8-9
“Listen, my son” opens the appeal that runs through the first nine chapters. It binds the teaching of both parents, naming “the teaching of your mother” beside the father's instruction. The words “a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck” picture wisdom as adornment.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
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 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 before 407.
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.
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 …
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Listen, my son, to your father's discipline, etc. He has thus far disputed proverbially about each side, now he begins diligently to admonish each faithful person to prefer the discipline of the divine law to the enticements of the wicked; for certainly the observance of …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 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
My son, hear the instruction of thy father,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
My son--This paternal form denotes a tender regard for the reader. Filial sentiments rank next to piety towards God, and ensure most distinguished rewards (compare Pr 6:20;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שְׁמַ֣ע | shema' | listen to | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| בְּ֭נִי | beni | O son my | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| מוּסַ֣ר | musar | [the] correction of | H4148 → | 50 times |
| אָבִ֑יךָ | ʾavikha | father your | H1 → | 1212 times |
| וְאַל־ | veal- | and may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁ | titosh | you reject | H5203 → | 40 times |
| תּוֹרַ֥ת | torat | [the] instruction of | H8451 → | 219 times |
| אִמֶּֽךָ׃ | ʾimekha | mother your | H517 → | 220 times |
שְׁמַ֣עlisten to
shema'H8085 →1159 times
בְּ֭נִיO son my
beniH1121 →4930 times
מוּסַ֣ר[the] correction of
musarH4148 →50 times
אָבִ֑יךָfather your
ʾavikhaH1 →1212 times
וְאַל־and may not
veal-H408 →724 times
תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁyou reject
titoshH5203 →40 times
תּוֹרַ֥ת[the] instruction of
toratH8451 →219 times
אִמֶּֽךָ׃mother your
ʾimekhaH517 →220 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
Proverbs 2:1My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:1
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
- Proverbs 1:3
and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
- Proverbs 4:1
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
- John 12:47–48
As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
- Deuteronomy 6:6–9
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts.
- Proverbs 3:1
Through
Proverbs 30:17As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
it leads to
- Proverbs 23:22
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 23:22
Through
2 Timothy 1:5I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
- Acts 16:1
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
- 1 Timothy 1:5
Where this verse is studied
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About Proverbs
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 1:19; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; 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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; 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.