Logos Bible Study

Proverbs 1:8–9

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1:8Listen,45 my child,46 to the instruction47 from48 your father,

and do not forsake the teaching49 from50 your mother.

1:9For they will be like51 an elegant52 garland53 on54 your head,

and like55 pendants56 around57 your neck.

Read in Logos
Proverbs 1:8: Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

Footnotes

  1. 45 The imperative שְׁמַע (shéma’, “Listen!”) forms an urgent exhortation which expects immediate compliance with parental instruction.
  2. 46 Heb “my son.” It is likely that collections of proverbs grew up in the royal courts and were designed for the training of the youthful prince. But once the collection was included in the canon, the term “son” would be expanded to mean a disciple, for all the people were to learn wisdom when young. It would not be limited to sons alone but would include daughters—as the expression “the children of (בְּנֵי, béne) Israel” (including males and females) clearly shows. Several passages in the and Talmud record instructions to teach daughters the Mosaic law so that they will be righteous and avoid sin as well. The translation “my child,” although not entirely satisfactory, will be used here.
  3. 47 Heb “training” or “discipline.” See note on .
  4. 48 Heb “of.” The noun אָבִיךָ (’avikha, “of your father”) may be classified as a genitive of source.
  5. 49 Heb “instruction.” In Proverbs the noun תּוֹרַה (torah) often means “instruction” or “moral direction” rather than “law” ( 435 1.a). It is related to יָרָה (yarah, “to point [or, show] the way” in the Hiphil ( 435). Instruction attempts to point a person in the right direction (e.g., Gen 46:28).
  6. 50 Heb “of.” The noun אִמֶּךָ (’immekha, “of your mother”) may be classified as a genitive of source.
  7. 51 The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
  8. 52 Heb “a garland of grace.” The word חֵן (khen, “grace”) refers to qualities that make a person pleasant and agreeable, e.g., a gracious and charming person ( 336 ). The metaphor compares the teachings that produce these qualities to an attractive wreath.
  9. 53 The noun לִוְיַה (livyah, “wreath; garland”) refers to a headdress and appears only twice in the OT (Prov 1:9; 4:9; 531 ; ).
  10. 54 Heb “for.”
  11. 55 The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
  12. 56 Cf. , “chains”; “a chain”; but this English term could suggest a prisoner’s chain to the modern reader rather than adornment.
  13. 57 Heb “for.”

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,

and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

for they are a graceful garland for your head

and pendants for your neck.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

They are a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,

for they will be a garland of favor on your head

and pendants around your neck.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

My child, listen when your father corrects you.

Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.

What you learn from them will crown you with grace

and be a chain of honor around your neck.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

My child, may you keep your father’s instruction,

and do not reject your mother’s teachings,

for they are a garland of favor for your head,

and pendants for your neck.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

And forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,

And chains about thy neck.

Public Domain