Proverbs 4:5
in Proverbs 4Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
KJV
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
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This verse in Proverbs 4
Commentary
6 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
do not forget my words or turn from them
on Proverbs 4:5-9
Wisdom is personified as a bride to be acquired and embraced, exalted so that she in turn exalts the one who holds her fast. The “garland of grace” and “crown of beauty” of verse 9 are court language, fitting a father who instructs a son born to reign.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Open up the treasury door for us, Lord, at the prayers of our supplications; let our prayers serve as our ambassador, reconciling us with your Divinity. Listen, all who are wise, pay attention, all who are learned, acquire understanding and knowledge, seeing that you are …
Almost all bodily excellences alter with age, and while wisdom alone increases all other functions decay. Fasting, sleeping on the ground, moving from place to place, hospitality to travelers, pleading for the poor, perseverance in standing at prayer, the visitation of the sick, manual labor to supply money for almsgiving—all acts, in short, of which the body is the medium decrease with its decay.Now there are young men and men of riper age who, by toil and ardent study, as well as by holiness of life and constant prayer to God, have obtained knowledge.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Get wisdom, get understanding,....
(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 Century1 voice
Get wisdom - True religion is essential to thy happiness; never forget its teachings, nor go aside from the path it prescribes.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| קְנֵ֣ה | keneh | acquire | H7069 → | 84 times |
| חָ֭כְמָה | chokhmah | wisdom | H2451 → | 153 times |
| קְנֵ֣ה | keneh | acquire | H7069 → | 84 times |
| בִינָ֑ה | vinah | understanding | H998 → | 38 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח | tishkach | you forget | H7911 → | 102 times |
| וְאַל־ | veal- | and may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תֵּ֝֗ט | tet | you turn aside | H5186 → | 214 times |
| מֵֽאִמְרֵי־ | meimrei- | from [the] utterances of | H561 → | 49 times |
| פִֽי׃ | fi | mouth my | H6310 → | 498 times |
קְנֵ֣הacquire
kenehH7069 →84 times
חָ֭כְמָהwisdom
chokhmahH2451 →153 times
קְנֵ֣הacquire
kenehH7069 →84 times
בִינָ֑הunderstanding
vinahH998 →38 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תִּשְׁכַּ֥חyou forget
tishkachH7911 →102 times
וְאַל־and may not
veal-H408 →724 times
תֵּ֝֗טyou turn aside
tetH5186 →214 times
מֵֽאִמְרֵי־from [the] utterances of
meimrei-H561 →49 times
פִֽי׃mouth my
fiH6310 →498 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
James 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
it leads to
- Proverbs 2:3–6
if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
- John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- Jeremiah 29:12–13
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
- Proverbs 3:5–7
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- 1 John 5:14–15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- Proverbs 2:3–6
Through
Psalms 44:18Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from Your path.
it leads to
- Psalms 119:51
The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn from Your law.
- Psalms 119:157
Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies.
- Psalms 119:51
Through
2 Chronicles 34:2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 29:2
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.
- 2 Chronicles 29:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Ephrem the Syrian, HYMNS PRESERVED IN ARMENIAN 1:1; Jerome, LETTER 52.3; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.