New International VersionMy son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
New Living TranslationMy son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
English Standard VersionMy son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
Berean Standard BibleMy son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
King James BibleMy son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
New King James VersionMy son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.
New American Standard BibleMy son, comply with the commandment of your father, And do not ignore the teaching of your mother;
NASB 1995My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
NASB 1977My son, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
Legacy Standard BibleMy son, observe the commandment of your father And do not abandon the law of your mother;
Amplified BibleMy son, be guided by your father’s [God-given] commandment (instruction) And do not reject the teaching of your mother;
Christian Standard BibleMy son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.
Holman Christian Standard BibleMy son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.
American Standard VersionMy son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
Contemporary English VersionObey the teaching of your parents--
English Revised VersionMy son, keep the commandment of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
GOD'S WORD® TranslationMy son, obey the command of your father, and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.
Good News TranslationSon, do what your father tells you and never forget what your mother taught you.
International Standard VersionKeep your father's commands, my son, and never forsake your mother's rules,
NET BibleMy child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.
New Heart English BibleMy son, keep your father's commandment, and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
Webster's Bible TranslationMy son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleMy son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
World English BibleMy son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionKeep, my son, the command of your father, "" And do not leave the law of your mother.
Young's Literal Translation Keep, my son, the command of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother.
Smith's Literal TranslationMy son, watch the commands of thy father, and thou shalt not reject the laws of thy mother: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleMy son, keep the commandments of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
Catholic Public Domain VersionMy son, preserve the precepts of your father, and do not dismiss the law of your mother.
New American BibleObserve, my son, your father’s command, and do not reject your mother’s teaching;
New Revised Standard VersionMy child, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleMy son, keep your father's commandment and do not forsake the law of your mother;
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedKeep, my son, the commandment of your father and do not forget the law of your mother. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
Brenton Septuagint TranslationMy son, keep the laws of thy father, and reject not the ordinances of thy mother:
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Warnings Against Adultery20My son,keepyour father’scommandment,and do notforsakeyour mother’steaching.21Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck.…
Cross References Deuteronomy 6:6-9These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. / Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ...
Ephesians 6:1-3Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. / “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”
Colossians 3:20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Exodus 20:12Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Proverbs 1:8-9Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. / For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
Proverbs 3:1-4My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; / for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life. / Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ...
Proverbs 4:1-4Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. / For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive. / When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, ...
Proverbs 7:1-3My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. / Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. / Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
Matthew 15:4For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
Mark 7:10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
Luke 18:20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”
2 Timothy 3:14-15But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. / From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 119:9-11How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word. / With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. / I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Isaiah 38:19The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness.
Treasury of Scripture My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not the law of your mother: Proverbs 1:8,9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: … Proverbs 7:1-4 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee… Proverbs 23:22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Jump to Previous CommandCommandmentCommandsFather'sForsakeLawMemoryMotherMother'sObserveRuleTeachingJump to Next CommandCommandmentCommandsFather'sForsakeLawMemoryMotherMother'sObserveRuleTeachingProverbs 6 1.against indebtedness6.idleness12.and mischievousness16.seven things detestable to God20.the blessings of obedience25.the mischief of unfaithfulnessMy son,This phrase indicates a personal and intimate address, suggesting a familial relationship. It reflects the common biblical motif of wisdom being passed down from parent to child, emphasizing the importance of generational teaching. The use of "son" can also be seen as a broader call to all believers, inviting them to receive wisdom as children of God. keep your father’s commandment,
The term "keep" implies active obedience and careful attention. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a father's commandment would often include moral and ethical teachings, as well as practical life advice. This aligns with the biblical tradition of the father as a spiritual leader in the household, as seen inDeuteronomy 6:6-7, where fathers are instructed to teach God's commandments diligently to their children. and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
The inclusion of the mother's teaching highlights the value of both parents in the spiritual and moral education of children. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, mothers played a crucial role in the early education and nurturing of children. This phrase underscores the importance of honoring and adhering to the wisdom imparted by both parents, as seen inProverbs 1:8. The dual emphasis on both parents' roles reflects the biblical principle of honoring one's father and mother, as commanded inExodus 20:12. Persons / Places / Events 1. FatherRepresents the paternal figure in a family, often seen as a source of authority and wisdom in biblical contexts. 2. MotherRepresents the maternal figure, often associated with nurturing and teaching in the family structure. 3. SonThe recipient of the wisdom and teachings, symbolizing the next generation and the continuity of faith and values. 4. CommandmentRefers to the instructions or guidelines given by the father, which are to be adhered to. 5. TeachingRefers to the lessons and guidance provided by the mother, emphasizing the importance of both parents in spiritual and moral education. Teaching Points The Importance of Parental GuidanceParental guidance is foundational in shaping a child's character and spiritual life. It is crucial to respect and adhere to the wisdom imparted by parents. The Role of Both ParentsBoth father and mother play vital roles in the upbringing of children. Their combined teachings provide a balanced and comprehensive foundation for life. Continuity of Faith and ValuesBy keeping commandments and teachings, children ensure the continuity of faith and values across generations, preserving the spiritual heritage. Obedience as a Path to WisdomObedience to parental guidance is a pathway to wisdom and understanding, aligning with God's design for family and society. The Blessing of Heeding InstructionThere is a promise of blessing and well-being for those who heed their parents' instructions, as it aligns with God's commandments and leads to a fulfilling life. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Proverbs 6:20?
2.How can we actively "keep your father's commandment" in our daily lives?
3.What does it mean to "forsake not your mother's teaching" in Proverbs 6:20?
4.How does Proverbs 6:20 relate to Ephesians 6:1-3 about honoring parents?
5.In what ways can we ensure God's teachings guide our decisions today?
6.How can Proverbs 6:20 influence our approach to family and spiritual leadership?
7.How does Proverbs 6:20 emphasize the importance of parental guidance in spiritual growth?
8.What historical context influenced the writing of Proverbs 6:20?
9.How does Proverbs 6:20 relate to the broader theme of wisdom in Proverbs?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 6?
11.What does the Bible say about rebellious children?
12.What does the Bible say about respecting parents?
13.Numbers 30 portrays women’s vows as contingent on male approval. Where is the historical or archeological evidence that such laws were regularly enforced in ancient Israel?
14.What does the Bible say about women teaching boys?What Does Proverbs 6:20 Mean My son• The phrase “My son” speaks directly to the heart, showing an intimate, family‐based appeal. It signals that wisdom is passed in relationship, not abstraction (Proverbs 1:8; 3:1). • This address carries loving urgency, much like Paul calling Timothy “my true child in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). The responsibility to receive counsel rests on the listener. • Scripture often frames God’s instruction in parent–child language, reminding us of our position before the Father (Hebrews 12:5-6).
keep your father’s commandment• “Keep” means guard, treasure, and obey. The instruction is expected to remain intact, not modified to fit passing moods (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • A father’s “commandment” presumes alignment with God’s revealed law. Earthly dads are to echo heavenly standards (Ephesians 6:4). • Obedience brings practical protection: “Heeding discipline shows the way to life” (Proverbs 6:23). • Notice the singular “commandment”—pointing to a coherent, unified moral framework, not a random list.
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching• A mother’s “teaching” (Proverbs 1:8) reflects daily, lived wisdom—how truth enters routines, tone, and nurture. • “Do not forsake” underscores permanence. Walking away from maternal counsel invites regret (Proverbs 23:22). • The verse dignifies a mother’s spiritual voice, matching her with the father in authority and value (2 Timothy 1:5). •Proverbs 31 shows a mother shaping a king through instruction, highlighting how maternal wisdom builds futures.
summaryProverbs 6:20 calls children to embrace, preserve, and act on the godly counsel of both parents. The father’s commands anchor them to God’s unchanging truth; the mother’s teaching weaves that truth into daily life. Together these voices form a protective fence around the heart, steering it toward righteousness, stability, and blessing. Verses 20-35. - 12. Twelfth admonitory discourse. In this the teacher returns again to the subject which he has already treated in the eighth discourse. The extreme tendency of men, and especially young men, to sins of impurity is no doubt, as Delitzsch remarks, the reason why this subject is again resumed. The subject is gradually worked up to the preceding admonitions in vers. 20-23, pointing out that the way of life, the way of safety, is to be secured by obedience to the precepts of parents, whose commandment and law illumine the perilous road of life, and whose reproofs are salutary to the soul. The arguments against the sin of adultery are cogent in their dissuasiveness, and none stronger of a purely temporal nature could be devised. It may be objected that the sin is not put forward in the higher light, as an offence before God. and that the appeal is made simply on the lines of self-interest; but who will deny that the scope of the teaching is distinctly moral, or that mankind is not influenced and dissuaded from sin by such a category of evils as includes personal beggary, dishonour, and death? Verse 20. - The first part of this verse is couched in almost the same terms as that of Proverbs 1:8, except that mitz'rath, "precept," preceptum, is here used instead of musar, eruditio, or "disciplinary instruction," while the latter part of the two verses are identical.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew My son,בְּ֭נִי(bə·nî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121:A sonkeepנְצֹ֣ר(nə·ṣōr)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5341:To watch, guard, keepyour father’sאָבִ֑יךָ(’ā·ḇî·ḵā)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1:Fathercommandment,מִצְוַ֣ת(miṣ·waṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4687:Commandmentand do notוְאַל־(wə·’al-)Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408:Notforsakeתִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁ(tiṭ·ṭōš)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5203:To pound, smite, to disperse, to thrust off, down, out, uponyour mother’sאִמֶּֽךָ׃(’im·me·ḵā)Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 517:A mother, )teaching.תּוֹרַ֥ת(tō·w·raṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8451:Direction, instruction, law
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 6:20 My son keep your father's commandment (Prov. Pro Pr) |
