New English Translation
Proverbs 23:22
22Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when 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 spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat, 21because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags. Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23Acquire truth and do not sell it – wisdom, and discipline, and understanding. 24The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in 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 1:8Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother.
- Proverbs 6:20My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.
- Deuteronomy 21:18If a person has a stubborn, rebellious son who pays no attention to his father or mother, and they discipline him to no avail,
- Deuteronomy 27:16‘Cursed is the one who disrespects his father and mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
- Mark 7:10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’
- Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.
- Proverbs 30:11There is a generation who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
- Leviticus 19:3Each of you must respect his mother and his father, and you must keep my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
- Matthew 15:4For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’
- John 19:26So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, look, here is 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries