God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 4:20
20My son, pay attention to my words. Open your ears to what I say.
Proverbs 4:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
- New International Version (NIV)My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
- English Standard Version (ESV)My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
- New King James Version (NKJV)My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
Context of Proverbs 4:20
18But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday. 19The way of wicked people is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble. My son, pay attention to my words. Open your ears to what I say. 21Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart 22because they are life to those who find them and they heal the whole body.
Read all of Proverbs 4Proverbs 4:20 word by word
בְּ֭נִי לִדְבָרַ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לַ֝אֲמָרַ֗י הַט־אָזְנֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 4:20
- Proverbs 5:1My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Open your ears to my understanding
- Proverbs 6:20My son, obey the command of your father, and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.
- Proverbs 7:1My son, pay attention to my words. Treasure my commands that are within you.
- Psalms 78:1Open your ears to my teachings, my people. Turn your ears to the words from my mouth.
- Psalms 90:12Teach us to number each of our days so that we may grow in wisdom.
- Isaiah 55:3Open your ears, and come to me! Listen so that you may live! I will make an everlasting promise to you— the blessings I promised to David.
- Matthew 17:5He was still speaking when a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love and with whom I am pleased. Listen to him!”
Commentaries on Proverbs 4:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4-20Verses 4-20 The counsel which has come to him, in substance, from his father. Compare it with 2 Samuel 23:2 etc.; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 4:7 Or, “The beginning of wisdom is - get wisdom.” To seek is to find, to desire is to obtain. Proverbs 4:12 The ever-recurring parable of the journey of life. In the way of wisdom the path is clear and open, obstacles disappear; in the quickest activity (“when thou…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-27Verses 14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21pay attention: See also Proverbs 1:8, 23; 2:1; 5:1–2; 7:1–3; 8:1. The child should let these teachings change his personality, symbolized by his heart. Following wisdom for life needs a change of heart.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2220-22. (Compare Pr 4:10, 13; Pr 3:8, &c.).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 4:20
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries