Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 1:4
4to give discernment to the naïve, knowledge and discretion to the youth
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 acquire wisdom and discipline, to understand the words of insight, 3to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and fairness, to give discernment to the naïve, knowledge and discretion to the youth 5(let the wise listen and increase learning and the discerning obtain wise counsel) 6to understand a proverb and a puzzle, the sayings of the wise 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 naïve ones love simplicity, you scoffers delight in scoffing, and you fools hate knowledge?
- Proverbs 8:5O naïve ones, learn prudence! Fools, gain understanding!
- Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is naïve, turn in here!” To those who lack understanding, she says:
- Psalms 19:7It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other end. Nothing is hidden from its heat.
- Psalms 119:130The unfolding of Your words gives light, giving understanding to the simple.
- Isaiah 35:8A highway will be there—a roadway. It will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it. It is for the one who walks the way. Fools will not go astray.
- Proverbs 7:7I saw among the naïve, I noticed among the youth, a young man lacking understanding,
- Proverbs 8:17I love those who love me. Those who earnestly seek me find me.
- Psalms 34:11Young lions may lack, and go hungry, but those who seek Adonai want for no good thing.
- Psalms 119:9How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, young man, in your childhood, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
- Ecclesiastes 12:1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: before the days of misery come, and years draw near when you will say: “I have no pleasure in them”—
- 2 Timothy 2:22Now flee from youthful desires; instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and shalom, with those who call on the Lord from 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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries