Proverbs 1:8
Proverbs 1:8 in Multiple Translations
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
My son, give ear to the training of your father, and do not give up the teaching of your mother:
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother,
My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
My son, pay attention to what I, your father, am teaching you. And do not reject what your mother teaches you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 1:8
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 1:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שְׁמַ֣ע
בְּ֭נִ/י
מוּסַ֣ר
אָבִ֑י/ךָ
וְ/אַל
תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁ
תּוֹרַ֥ת
אִמֶּֽ/ךָ
שְׁמַ֣ע
shâmaʻ
H8085
to hear
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
בְּ֭נִ/י
bên
H1121
son
N-ms | Suff
מוּסַ֣ר
mûwçâr
H4148
discipline
N-ms
אָבִ֑י/ךָ
ʼâb
H1
father
N-ms | Suff
וְ/אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Conj | Part
תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁ
nâṭash
H5203
to leave
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
תּוֹרַ֥ת
tôwrâh
H8451
instruction
N-fs
אִמֶּֽ/ךָ
ʼêm
H517
mother
N-fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 1:8
שְׁמַ֣ע
shâmaʻ
H8085
"to hear"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
בְּ֭נִ/י
bên
H1121
"son"
N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
מוּסַ֣ר
mûwçâr
H4148
"discipline"
N-ms
This Hebrew term means discipline or correction, often used to describe God's guidance. In Psalm 50:17, it warns against rejecting God's discipline, while in Proverbs 1:7, it emphasizes the importance of discipline in gaining wisdom. It involves learning from mistakes.
Definition: : discipline/punishment 1) discipline, chastening, correction 1a) discipline, correction 1b) chastening
Usage: Occurs in 50 OT verses. KJV: bond, chastening(-eth), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke. See also: Deuteronomy 11:2; Proverbs 15:10; Psalms 50:17.
אָבִ֑י/ךָ
ʼâb
H1
"father"
N-ms | Suff
In Hebrew, this word means father, whether literal or figurative. It is used to describe God as the father of his people, as well as human fathers like Abraham. The word is about a paternal relationship or authority.
Definition: 1) father of an individual 2) of God as father of his people 3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan 4) ancestor 4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person 4b) of people 5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art 6) of producer, generator (fig.) 7) of benevolence and protection (fig.) 8) term of respect and honour 9) ruler or chief (spec.) Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
Usage: Occurs in 1060 OT verses. KJV: chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. See also: Genesis 2:24; Genesis 42:37; Leviticus 19:3.
וְ/אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Conj | Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁ
nâṭash
H5203
"to leave"
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
To leave or forsake something, like God forsaking his people in the book of Isaiah. It can also mean to permit or let something happen. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's relationship with his people.
Definition: 1) to leave, permit, forsake, cast off or away, reject, suffer, join, spread out or abroad, be loosed, cease, abandon, quit, hang loose, cast down, make a raid, lie fallow, let fall, forgo, draw 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to leave, let alone, lie fallow, entrust to 1a2) to forsake, abandon 1a3) to permit 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be forsaken 1b2) to be loosened, be loose 1b3) to be let go, spread abroad 1c) (Pual) to be abandoned, be deserted
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: cast off, drawn, let fall, forsake, join (battle), leave (off), lie still, loose, spread (self) abroad, stretch out, suffer. See also: Genesis 31:28; Psalms 78:60; Psalms 27:9.
תּוֹרַ֥ת
tôwrâh
H8451
"instruction"
N-fs
The Hebrew word for instruction or law, referring to the Ten Commandments or the first five books of the Bible, guiding human behavior and moral code.
Definition: 1) law, direction, instruction 1a) instruction, direction (human or divine) 1a1) body of prophetic teaching 1a2) instruction in Messianic age 1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction 1a4) body of legal directives 1b) law 1b1) law of the burnt offering 1b2) of special law, codes of law 1c) custom, manner 1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law
Usage: Occurs in 213 OT verses. KJV: law. See also: Genesis 26:5; Nehemiah 8:7; Psalms 1:2.
אִמֶּֽ/ךָ
ʼêm
H517
"mother"
N-fs | Suff
The Hebrew word for 'mother' is used in the Bible to describe a female parent or a maternal figure. It can also refer to the source or origin of something, such as a river or a family. In some cases, it is used figuratively to describe a person's relationship to others.
Definition: 1) mother 1a) of humans 1b) of Deborah's relationship to the people (fig.) 1c) of animals 2) point of departure or division
Usage: Occurs in 202 OT verses. KJV: dam, mother, [idiom] parting. See also: Genesis 2:24; 2 Kings 4:19; Psalms 22:10.
Study Notes — Proverbs 1:8
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 1:8 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 1:8
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 1:8
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 1:8
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
- Sermons on Proverbs 1:8
Context — The Enticement of Sin
6by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck. 10My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 6:20 | My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. |
| 2 | Proverbs 30:17 | As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it. |
| 3 | Proverbs 5:1–2 | My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. |
| 4 | Proverbs 31:1 | These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him: |
| 5 | Proverbs 2:1 | My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, |
| 6 | Proverbs 1:10 | My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. |
| 7 | Proverbs 4:1–4 | Listen, 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, he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live. |
| 8 | Leviticus 19:3 | Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God. |
| 9 | Deuteronomy 21:18–21 | If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined, his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown, and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid. |
| 10 | Proverbs 3:1 | My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; |
Proverbs 1:8 Summary
This verse is encouraging children to listen to and obey their parents, because they have wisdom and guidance to share. Just like we learn to respect and obey God, as seen in Psalm 119:1-8, we should also respect and obey our parents, as seen in Ephesians 6:1-3. By listening to our parents, we can gain valuable knowledge and wisdom that will help us navigate life's challenges, and we can also show our love and appreciation for them, as seen in John 14:15. By following this advice, we can build strong, healthy relationships with our parents and with God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of listening to one's father's instruction in Proverbs 1:8?
Listening to one's father's instruction is crucial because it is a way of showing respect and obedience to authority, as seen in Ephesians 6:1-3, and it also helps in gaining wisdom and knowledge, as mentioned in Proverbs 1:8.
Why is it important not to forsake the teaching of one's mother in Proverbs 1:8?
Not forsaking the teaching of one's mother is important because a mother's guidance and wisdom are invaluable, as seen in Proverbs 31:1, and they play a significant role in shaping one's character and values, as mentioned in Proverbs 22:6.
How does this verse relate to the fear of the Lord mentioned in Proverbs 1:7?
The fear of the Lord mentioned in Proverbs 1:7 is the foundation of knowledge, and listening to one's parents' instruction in Proverbs 1:8 is a practical way of demonstrating this fear, as it shows respect for authority and a desire to learn and obey God's commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:1-2.
What is the relevance of this verse in today's society?
This verse is still relevant today because it emphasizes the importance of respecting and obeying authority, as well as the value of parental guidance and wisdom, as seen in Exodus 20:12, and it encourages children to listen to and learn from their parents, which is essential for their spiritual and emotional growth, as mentioned in Psalm 119:9-11.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can show respect and obedience to my parents, and how can I apply the principles of Proverbs 1:8 to my life?
- How can I balance the need to listen to my parents with the need to make my own decisions and take responsibility for my actions, as I grow older and become more independent?
- What are some teachings from my parents that have had a significant impact on my life, and how can I pass on these teachings to my own children or others in the future?
- In what ways can I demonstrate my appreciation for my parents' guidance and wisdom, and how can I honor them in a way that is pleasing to God, as seen in Exodus 20:12?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 1:8
My son, hear the instruction of thy father,.... This is not to be understood of God the Father of mankind, and of that law which he has given them, as Jarchi and Gersom interpret it, but of Solomon
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 1:8
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Even bad parents generally instruct their sons to do right.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
My son; he speaks to his scholars with paternal authority and affection, to make them more attentive and obedient. Teachers among the Hebrews and others were commonly called fathers, and their scholars their sons. The instruction of thy father; his good and wholesome counsels, but not such as are contrary to God’ s law, . The law of thy mother; those pious instructions which thy mother instilled into thee in thy tender years. See 3:14,15. This he adds, because children, when grown up, are very prone to slight their mother’ s advice, because of the infirmity of their sex, and because they have not that dependence upon and expectation from their mothers which they have from their fathers.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:Ver. 8. Hear the instruction of thy father, &c.] It is not fit to disobey God, thy father, nor thy teacher, saith Aristotle Our parents, said Hierocles, are Yεοιεφεστιοι, our household gods: and their words should be received as oracles. This is a principal fruit of the fear of God, which it here fitly followeth: like as in the decalogue, the commandment for honouring of parents is set next of all to those of the first table, nay, is indeed, as Philo saith of it, ειτολημικτη, a mixed commandment. μηκαλονχρινεινεναντιατοιςθεοις, πατρι, καιδιδασκαλω. - Arist. Rhet.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
(8) My son.—The address as of a master to his pupil. This phrase only occurs twice again in Proverbs, excepting in sections (2) and (4). Law.—Rather, teaching. (Comp. Proverbs 3:1.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
Verse 8. My son, hear] Father was the title of preceptor, and son, that of disciple or scholar, among the Jews. But here the reference appears to be to the children of a family; the father and the mother have the principal charge, in the first instance, of their children's instruction. It is supposed that these parents have, themselves, the fear of the Lord, and that they are capable of giving the best counsel to their children, and that they set before them a strict example of all godly living. In vain do parents give good advice if their own conduct be not consistent. The father occasionally gives instruction; but he is not always in the family, many of those occupations which are necessary for the family support being carried on abroad. The mother - she is constantly within doors, and to her the regulation of the family belongs; therefore she has and gives laws. The wise man says in effect to every child, "Be obedient to thy mother within, and carefully attend to the instructions of thy father, that thou mayest the better see the reasons of obedience; and learn from him how thou art to get thy bread honestly in the world."
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 1:8
First Address. Chap. Proverbs 1:8-19 Proverbs 1:8-9. In these two verses the writer passes to direct appeal. The form of appeal, My son, which is continually repeated throughout these opening chapters, strikes the key-note of the strain in which all the succeeding exhortations and counsels are cast. It indicates not only the fatherly relation which the Teacher assumes towards the young and inexperienced whom he has undertaken to instruct, but also the true source and authority of the teaching he will give them. The Law, though not clothed, as we have seen (Introd. pp. 12, 13) in this Book in its Jewish garb, is recognised in its eternal principles. “The instruction of the father,” and “the law of the mother” are to be accepted with childlike submission and unquestioning obedience, and will lend grace and dignity to the life and character, because and in so far as they are the instruction and the law of God Himself, the Universal Father, and because parents are His vicegerents in the education of their children (comp. Proverbs 6:20-21). And every true teacher is, in measure and degree, His and their deputy and representative. (See Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 11:19; and compare the place of the 5th commandment in the Decalogue, as the link or hinge between the 1st and 2nd tables of the Law, and the extended obligation of that commandment to “governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters.”)
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 1:8
TO AVOID THE WAYS OF EVIL MEN, Proverbs 1:8-19. 8. Having thus stated in a beautiful and comprehensive aphorism the relation of true piety or religious principle to worthy intellectual attainments,
Sermons on Proverbs 1:8
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Children by Charles Stanley | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that while parents have a responsibility to teach and guide their children in their faith, ultimately each child must develop their own belie |
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Biblical Courtship Session #3: The Child's Responsibility to the Parents by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of taking marriage seriously and finding a partner that God has chosen for us. He encourages listeners to reflect on their pa |
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Ravenhill Humor - Who's the Author by Leonard Ravenhill | In the sermon, the speaker mentions the famous story of Rip Van Winkle, which is well-known around the world, including in Russia. However, the speaker asks the audience if they kn |
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(Youth Bible School 2007) the Path of Rebellion by Mose Stoltzfus | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the consequences of rebellion against God and authority figures. He uses the story of Samson as an example of someone who rebelled and suffer |
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Bringing Up Our Children for God by Zac Poonen | The sermon emphasizes the importance of teaching children the word of God and instilling biblical principles in their lives. It highlights the responsibility placed on fathers to b |
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Old Testament Survey - Part 21 by Dick Woodward | The sermon focuses on the Book of Deuteronomy, highlighting the transition of the second generation of God's people entering the promised land of Canaan after the first generation |
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Family and Education by Valsan Thampu | Valsan Thampu emphasizes the crucial role of parents in actively participating in the education of their children, highlighting the need for a partnership with teachers and the imp |