Amplified Bible
Proverbs 4:1
1Hear, O children, the instruction of a father, And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.
Proverbs 4:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
- New International Version (NIV)Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding;
Context of Proverbs 4:1
Hear, O children, the instruction of a father, And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment. 2For I give you good doctrine; Do not turn away from my instruction. 3When I was a son with my father (David), Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother (Bathsheba),
Read all of Proverbs 4Proverbs 4:1 word by word
שִׁמְע֣וּ בָ֭נִים מ֣וּסַר אָ֑ב וְ֝הַקְשִׁ֗יבוּ לָדַ֥עַת בִּינָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 4:1
- Proverbs 2:1My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you,
- Proverbs 5:1My son, be attentive to my wisdom [godly wisdom learned by costly experience], Incline your ear to my understanding;
- Proverbs 7:4Say to [skillful and godly] wisdom, “You are my sister,” And regard understanding and intelligent insight as your intimate friends;
- Proverbs 8:32“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] are they who keep my ways.
- Proverbs 19:20Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, That you may be wise in the time to come.
- Proverbs 22:17Listen carefully and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;
- Hebrews 2:1For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.
Commentaries on Proverbs 4:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Hear, 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The words “ye children” indicate as usual a new section returning, after the break of Proverbs 3:27-35, to the old strain of fatherly counsel.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Exhortation to the study of wisdom. (1-13) Cautions against bad company, Exhortation to faith and holiness. (14-27) Verses 1-13 We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Discourses in Proverbs 1–9 often start with a call to listen (compare 1:8, 23; 2:1; 4:20–21; 5:1–2; 6:20–23; 7:1–3). Listen...to a father’s instruction: Children should listen because they have made mistakes.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-271-2. (Compare Pr 1:8). to know--in order to know. doctrine--the matter of learning (Pr 1:5), such as he had received (La 3:1).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 4:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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