God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 23:22
22Listen to your father since you are his son, and do not despise your mother because she is old.
Proverbs 23:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
- New International Version (NIV)Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.
Context of Proverbs 23:22
20Do not associate with those who drink too much wine, with those who eat too much meat, 21because both a drunk and a glutton will become poor. Drowsiness will dress a person in rags. Listen to your father since you are his son, and do not despise your mother because she is old. 23Buy truth (and do not sell it), ⌞that is,⌟ buy wisdom, discipline, and understanding. 24A righteous person’s father will certainly rejoice. Someone who has a wise son will enjoy him.
Read all of Proverbs 23Proverbs 23:22 word by word
שְׁמַ֣ע לְ֭אָבִיךָ זֶ֣ה יְלָדֶ֑ךָ וְאַל־תָּ֝ב֗וּז כִּֽי־זָקְנָ֥ה אִמֶּֽךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 23:22
- Proverbs 1:8My son, listen to your father’s discipline, and do not neglect your mother’s teachings,
- Proverbs 6:20My son, obey the command of your father, and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.
- Deuteronomy 21:18Parents might have a stubborn and rebellious son who doesn’t obey them. Even though they punish him, he still won’t listen to them.
- Deuteronomy 27:16“Whoever curses his father or mother will himself be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
- Mark 7:10For example, Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.’
- Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents because you are Christians. This is the right thing to do.
- Proverbs 30:11A certain kind of person curses his father and does not bless his mother.
- Leviticus 19:3“Respect your mother and father. Observe my days of rest as holy days. I am the Lord your God.
- Matthew 15:4For example, God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.’
- John 19:26Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there. He said to his mother, “Look, here’s your son!”
Commentaries on Proverbs 23:22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Despise not thy mother when she is old - A very necessary caution, as very old women are generally helpless, useless, and burdensome: yet these circumstances do not at all lessen the child's duty. And this duty is strengthened by the Divine command here given.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-35Verses 15-35 Another continuous exhortation rather than a collection of maxims. Proverbs 23:16 The teacher rejoices when the disciple‘s heart Proverbs 23:15 receives wisdom, and yet more when his lips can utter it. Reins - See Job 19:27 note. Proverbs 23:17 Envy sinners - Compare in Psalm 37:1; Psalm 73:3; the feeling which looks half-longingly at the prosperity of evil doers. Some connect the verb “envy” with the second clause, “envy not sinners, but…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-28Verses 19-28 The gracious Saviour who purchased pardon and peace for his people, with all the affection of a tender parent, counsels us to hear and be wise, and is ready to guide our hearts in his way. Here we have an earnest call to young people, to attend to the advice of their godly parents. If the heart be guided, the steps will be guided. Buy the truth, and sell it not; be willing to part with any thing for it. Do not part with it for pleasures…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-25Saying 16: This saying encourages seeking the wisdom that both a godly father and mother offer. Unlike other ancient Near East wisdom texts, Proverbs credits wisdom to both parents (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. Hearken--that is, obey (Pr 1:8; Ep 6:1). despise ... old--Adults revere the parents whom, as children, they once obeyed.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 23:22
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 23
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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