Proverbs 5:1
in Proverbs 5My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding:
KJV
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
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This verse in Proverbs 5
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Gregory the DialogistThe Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 14 · Written before 604.
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my prudence, that thou mayest guard thy thoughts. For, indeed, nothing is more fugitive than the heart, which deserts us as often as it slips away through bad thoughts. For hence the Psalmist says, My heart hath failed me. Hence, when he returns to himself, he says, Thy servant hath found his heart to pray to Thee. When, therefore, thought is kept under guard, the heart which was wont to fly away is found.
This site's exposition
pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight
on Proverbs 5:1-6
The son is told to “maintain discretion” before the warning names its subject, because the danger of “the forbidden woman” begins with pleasant speech. Her end reverses her opening, “bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword,” a taste that shows only after the sweet one has worked.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
My son, attend to my wisdom, etc. Until now he had generally rebuked the listener; hence under the guise of the harlot, he prohibits from the wickedness of heretics.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
My son, attend unto my wisdom,....
Solomon here, as a faithful watchman, gives fair warning to all, as they regard their lives and comforts, to dread this sin, for it will certainly be their ruin. Two things we are here warned to take heed of:-- 1. That we do not listen to the charms of this sin.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
This connection of wisdom and understanding is frequent (Pr 2:2; 3:7); the first denotes the use of wise means for wise ends; the other, the exercise of a proper discrimination in their discovery.
Attend unto my wisdom - Take the following lessons from my own experience.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The formula of a new counsel, introducing another warning against the besetting sin of youth Pro 2:16.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּ֭נִי | beni | O son my | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| לְחָכְמָתִ֣י | lechakhemati | to wisdom my | H2451 → | 153 times |
| הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה | hakshivah | be attentive ! | H7181 → | 46 times |
| לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י | litvunati | to understanding my | H8394 → | 42 times |
| הַט־ | hat- | incline | H5186 → | 214 times |
| אָזְנֶֽךָ׃ | ʾazenekha | ear your | H241 → | 187 times |
בְּ֭נִיO son my
beniH1121 →4930 times
לְחָכְמָתִ֣יto wisdom my
lechakhematiH2451 →153 times
הַקְשִׁ֑יבָהbe attentive !
hakshivahH7181 →46 times
לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗יto understanding my
litvunatiH8394 →42 times
הַט־incline
hat-H5186 →214 times
אָזְנֶֽךָ׃ear your
ʾazenekhaH241 →187 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;
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 3:1
Through
Proverbs 4:20My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
it leads to
- Proverbs 7:1
My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.
- Proverbs 7:1
Through
Revelation 2:17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone…
it leads to
- Isaiah 62:2
Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
- Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 65:15
You will leave behind your name as a curse for My chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will slay you; but to His servants He will give another name.
- Isaiah 62:2
Through
Revelation 2:11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
it leads to
- Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him…
- Revelation 20:6
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); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Gregory the Dialogist, The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 14; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.