Proverbs 4:1-27 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father. This exhortation is identical with that in Proverbs 1:8 , except that the address, "ye children," indicating a new departure, is now used instead of "my son," which has been hitherto employed (see Proverbs 1:8 ; Proverbs 2:1 ; Proverbs 3:1 , Proverbs 3:21 ), and "of thy father" is altered to "of a father." The verb is the same, occurring here, of course, in the plural number. The appeal is evidently intended to rouse attention.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-4

A family heirloom I. DIVINE WISDOM IS THE BEST OF FAMILY HEIRLOOMS . Solomon transmits to his son the instruction which he has received from his father. Thus he aims at making it an old household treasure. He also hands down royal power, great possessions, national fame. But wisdom is to him an inheritance more precious than all other things. The rest may go rather than that the entail shall be cut off this most prized part of the family estate. It would be well if fathers... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

The tradition of piety The writer, here and in Proverbs 5:7 and Proverbs 7:24 , addresses his audience as children, thinking of himself as a son, who had been the object of fatherly counsels and warnings in his youth. He would hand on the torch of wisdom, the tradition of piety, to the next generation. I. PIETY SHOULD BE A FAMILY TRADITION . ( Proverbs 7:1-3 .) Handed down from father to son and grandson, or from mother to daughter and grandchild, from Lois to Eunice,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

The solicitude of the wise father: a sermon to parents and children In these verses we have a peep into the royal house at Jerusalem while David was on the throne. And we have such a glimpse as we should expect to gain. We see the devout man extremely solicitous that his son should walk in the ways of Divine and heavenly wisdom. David, like the rest of human parents, and more than most of them, was under— I. A STRONG TEMPTATION TO MAKE A FALSE ESTIMATE . So near to us is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-27

7. Seventh admonitory discourse. We here enter upon the second group of admonitory discourses, as is indicated by the opening address, "my children," and which occurs again in Proverbs 5:7 and Proverbs 7:24 . This group extends to the end of Proverbs 7:1-27 . Its prevailing tone is that of warning rather than of positive exhortations, which have been the rule hitherto. The general aim of the discourse before us, as of those preceding, is to exalt Wisdom, to exhibit her as a subject... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:2

For I give you good doctrine. This, while stating the reason for the exhortation in the previous verse, signifies that what the teacher has given and is giving, he has received from his father. I give ; nathati, literally, "I gave," is the kal perfect of nathan, "to give," but the perfect is here used for the present, as denoting not only a past action, but one that is still continuing. Good doctrine ( lekakh tov ) . The doctrine or instruction is "good," not only... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:3

For I was my father's son. This is more than the mere statement of a physical fact. It indicates that the teacher was in the highest degree an object of endearment to his father, just as he states in the second hemistich that he held a unique position in the affection of his mother. `The statement agrees with the historical record. Solomon would be more than ordinarily dear to his father, as being a child of promise, as "the beloved of the Lord," and as the son whom the Divine will had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:4

From this verse to Proverbs 4:19 inclusive, the teacher quotes the instruction which he had received of his father. His object in doing so is to show that his own teaching was in harmony with it, and therefore worthy of attention. His precepts, admonitions, and warnings are not his only, but those of his father. Other examples of David's instructions to Solomon are found in 1 Kings 2:2 ; 1 Chronicles 22:12 , 1 Chronicles 22:13 ; 1 Chronicles 28:9 . And he taught; i.e. his father,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:5

After the general exhortation given above, the father's instruction becomes more specific, and deals with the acquirement of wisdom. This subject seems to be continued in Proverbs 4:13 , where the second and concluding branch of the instruction begins, which consists mainly of warning, as the first part does with exhortation. We are thus furnished with an example how to teach. In our teaching it is not sufficient simply to point out what is to be done, but we must show what is to be avoided.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. The older versions, such as the Alexandrian LXX . (the verse is omitted by the Vatican LXX .), Targum, and Syriac, agree in rendering this verse, "The beginning of wisdom is get wisdom," which is equivalent to saying that the beginning of wisdom consists in the acquisition of wisdom, or, as Umbreit explains, "in the resolution to get wisdom." That this rendering, which is adopted by Luther, Delitzsch, and Umbreit, may be correct... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-27

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:7

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