Proverbs 4:1
in Proverbs 4Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:
KJV
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
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This verse in Proverbs 4
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The words “ye children” indicate as usual a new section returning, after the break of Pro 3:27-35, to the old strain of fatherly counsel.
This site's exposition
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction
on Proverbs 4:1-4
The appeal doubles as autobiography: Solomon was once the son taught by his father, and was told, “Let your heart lay hold of my words”. Three generations stand inside these four verses, and the doubling shows that wisdom is received before it can be given.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Indeed, many have lamented the weakness of human fragility, but among them, Job and David were particularly notable. The former, superior, direct, intense, and seemingly provoked by severe pains with a higher tragic quality; the latter, gentle, calm, and meek, with a milder emotion; so that, truly, we would imitate the heart of a deer that he set as an example for us to imitate. And do not be dismayed if I seem to preach to you in the likeness of a wild beast, when you read the statement to the apostles: Be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). However, even though such similarities are drawn with pious examples, and the nature of deer is innocent and gentle; I think that deer is proposed here as an imitation of the Prophet, about whom Solomon, the supporter of his father's mind, said in Proverbs: 'A deer of friendship, and a foal of thanks will converse with you' (Prov. 5:19).
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "You, therefore, follow me." Let us follow him then, because that commandment has been passed down to us. The admonition originally given to the church at Corinth reaches to all Christians of all time in every place. For the apostle Paul was "a teacher of all nations in faith and truth."2As a matter of fact, we get the same sort of teaching from all the saints of old. Solomon, for example, used proverbs, saying, "Hear, my children, the instruction of a father and pay attention to get understanding, for I give you a good gift.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Listen, my sons, to the discipline of a father, etc. Here, about to exhort to philosophy, he explains how he himself was taught wisdom by his father.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
We have reason to think that thousands have got more good by Solomon's proverbs than his own son did, to whom they seem to have been dedicated. Let all young people, in the days of their childhood and youth, take pains to get knowledge and grace, for that is their learning age, and then their minds are formed and seasoned.
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Hear, ye children - Come, my pupils, and hear how a father instructed his child. Such as I received from my father I give to you, and they were the teachings of a wise and affectionate parent to his only son, a peculiar object of his regards, and also those of a fond mother. He introduces the subject thus, to show that the teaching he received, and which he was about to give them, was the most excellent of its kind. By this he ensured their attention, and made his way to their heart. Teaching by precept is good; teaching by example is better; but teaching both by precept and example is best of all.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Children, hearken to the discipline of the Father The Holy One, blessed be He.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שִׁמְע֣וּ | shimu | listen to | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| בָ֭נִים | vanim | O children | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| מ֣וּסַר | musar | [the] correction of | H4148 → | 50 times |
| אָ֑ב | ʾav | a father | H1 → | 1212 times |
| וְ֝הַקְשִׁ֗יבוּ | vehakshivu | and be attentive | H7181 → | 46 times |
| לָדַ֥עַת | ladaat | to know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| בִּינָֽה׃ | binah | understanding | H998 → | 38 times |
שִׁמְע֣וּlisten to
shimuH8085 →1159 times
בָ֭נִיםO children
vanimH1121 →4930 times
מ֣וּסַר[the] correction of
musarH4148 →50 times
אָ֑בa father
ʾavH1 →1212 times
וְ֝הַקְשִׁ֗יבוּand be attentive
vehakshivuH7181 →46 times
לָדַ֥עַתto know
ladaatH3045 →945 times
בִּינָֽה׃understanding
binahH998 →38 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
Hebrews 2:1We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
it leads to
- Luke 8:15
But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
- 2 Peter 1:12–13
Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have.
- Proverbs 7:1–2
My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
- Proverbs 2:1–6
My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
- Hebrews 1:1–2
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.
- Luke 8:15
Through
Psalms 34:11Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
it leads to
- Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Proverbs 1:7
Through
Proverbs 5:1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,
it leads to
- Proverbs 2:1
My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 2:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Interrogation of Job and David; Athanasius of Alexandria, Letter 2.1; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.