God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 1:4
4to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young—
Proverbs 1:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
- New International Version (NIV)for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—
- English Standard Version (ESV)to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—
- New King James Version (NKJV)To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—
Context of Proverbs 1:4
2to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand deep thoughts, 3to acquire the discipline of wise behavior— righteousness and justice and fairness— to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young— 5a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction— 6to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles.
Read all of Proverbs 1Proverbs 1:4 word by word
לָתֵ֣ת לִפְתָאיִ֣ם עָרְמָ֑ה לְ֝נַ֗עַר דַּ֣עַת וּמְזִמָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 1:4
- Proverbs 1:22“How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?
- Proverbs 8:5You gullible people, learn how to be sensible. You fools, get a heart that has understanding.
- Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is gullible turn in here!” She says to a person without sense,
- Psalms 19:7The teachings of the Lord are perfect. They renew the soul. The testimony of the Lord is dependable. It makes gullible people wise.
- Psalms 119:130Your word is a doorway that lets in light, and it helps gullible people understand.
- Isaiah 35:8A highway will be there, a roadway. It will be called the Holy Road. Sinners won’t travel on it. It will be for those who walk on it. Godless fools won’t wander ⌞onto it⌟.
- Proverbs 7:7I was looking at gullible people when I saw a young man without much sense among youths
- Proverbs 8:17I love those who love me. Those eagerly looking for me will find me.
- Psalms 34:11Come, children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
- Psalms 119:9How can a young person keep his life pure? ⌞He can do it⌟ by holding on to your word.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9You young people should enjoy yourselves while you’re young. You should let your hearts make you happy when you’re young. Follow wherever your heart leads you and whatever your eyes see. But realize that God will make you give an account for all these things when he judges everyone.
- Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember your Creator when you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years catch up with you. They will make you say, “I have found no pleasure in them.”
- 2 Timothy 2:22Stay away from lusts which tempt young people. Pursue what has God’s approval. Pursue faith, love, and peace together with those who worship the Lord with a pure heart.
Commentaries on Proverbs 1:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4To give subtilty to the simple - The word simple, from simplex, compounded of sine, without, and plica, a fold, properly signifies plain and honest, one that has no by-ends in view, who is what he appears to be; and is opposed to complex, from complico, to fold together, to make one rope or cord out of many strands; but because honesty and plaindealing are so rare in the world, and none but the truly religious man will practice them, farther than the fear…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4This verse points out the two classes for which the book will be useful: (1) the “simple,” literally the “open,” the open-hearted, the minds ready to receive impressions for good or evil Proverbs 1:22; and (2) the “young,” who need both knowledge and discipline. To these the teacher offers the “subtilty,” which may turn to evil Exodus 21:14 and become as the wisdom of the serpent Genesis 3:1, but which also takes its place, as that wisdom does, among the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Simple people are like empty containers. Wisdom and foolishness compete to fill their minds and hearts (see Proverbs 9:1–18).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 1:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 1
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries