God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 4:3
3When I was a boy ⌞learning⌟ from my father, when I was a tender and only child of my mother,
Proverbs 4:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
- New International Version (NIV)For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
- New King James Version (NKJV)When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
Context of Proverbs 4:3
1Sons, listen to ⌞your⌟ father’s discipline, and pay attention in order to gain understanding. 2After all, I have taught you well. Do not abandon my teachings. When I was a boy ⌞learning⌟ from my father, when I was a tender and only child of my mother, 4they used to teach me and say to me, “Cling to my words wholeheartedly. Obey my commands so that you may live. 5Acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding. Do not forget. Do not turn away from the words that I have spoken.
Read all of Proverbs 4Proverbs 4:3 word by word
כִּי־בֵ֭ן הָיִ֣יתִי לְאָבִ֑י רַ֥ךְ וְ֝יָחִ֗יד לִפְנֵ֥י אִמִּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 4:3
- 2 Samuel 12:24Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to bed with her, and she later gave birth to a son. David named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child
- 1 Kings 1:13Go to King David and ask him, ‘Your Majesty, didn’t you swear to me that my son Solomon will be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? Why is Adonijah acting as king?’
- 1 Chronicles 3:5These ⌞children⌟ were born to David in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon (the mother of these four was Ammiel’s daughter Bathshua) and
- 1 Chronicles 22:5David thought, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the temple that will be built for the Lord must be magnificent, large, famous, praised, and honored in all other countries. I’ll prepare ⌞the building materials⌟ for him.” So David prepared many materials ⌞for Solomon⌟ before he died.
- 1 Chronicles 29:1Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. Yet, the work is important because this palace is not for a person but for the Lord God.
- Jeremiah 10:23O Lord, I know that the way humans act is not under their control. Humans do not direct their steps as they walk.
- Romans 12:16Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people. Don’t think that you are smarter than you really are.
Commentaries on Proverbs 4:3
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Probably the words of Solomon himself, who looks back from his glorious throne and his matured wisdom to the training which was the starting point. The part taken by Bathsheba in Genesis 22:2, Genesis 22:12) in its derived sense, “beloved like an only son.” The Vulgate gives “unigenitus.” Compare the words applied to our Lord, as the “only begotten” John 1:14, the “beloved” Ephesians 1:6.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3a son to my father...the only child of my mother: In Proverbs, both parents teach wisdom. This joint involvement is unique in ancient Near Eastern traditions.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. father's son--emphatic, a son specially regarded, and so called tender, as an object of special care (compare 1Ch 22:7; 29:1); an idea further expressed by only beloved--or, "as an only son" (Ge 22:2), though he had brothers (see on 1Ch 3:5).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 4:3
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