Proverbs 4:20 — Word Study
WLCבְּ֭נִי לִדְבָרַ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לַ֝אֲמָרַ֗י הַט־ אָזְנֶֽךָ׃
BSAMy sonbên [beloved, descendant, child of God] pay attentionqâshab [listen carefully, heed] to my wordsdâbâr [sayings, teachings, promises] inclinenâṭâh [stretch, turn] your earʼôzen [ability to hear, understanding] to my sayingsʼêmer [words, speeches, commands]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּ֭נִי | O son my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| לִדְבָרַ֣י | to words my | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה | be attentive ! | Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| לַ֝אֲמָרַ֗י | to utterances my | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| הַט־ | incline | Verb, Hiphil, imperative second person masculine singular |
| אָזְנֶֽךָ׃ | ear your | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. |
| KJV | ¶ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. |
| ASV | My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. |
| YLT | My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear, |
| WEB | My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. |
| BBE | My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings. |
Where they part company is הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by an imperative phrase, indicating a direct instruction to the son.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָטָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 4:20
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Importance of Wisdomgenerated
Proverbs 4:20 emphasizes the necessity of paying attention to wise teachings, as the father instructs his son to listen closely to his words. This passage highlights the value of wisdom and understanding in navigating life, urging the reader to embrace the teachings that lead to well-being, as further elaborated in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 5:1 | My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight, |
| 2 | Proverbs 6:20–21 | My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. |
| 3 | Proverbs 7:1 | My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. |
| 4 | Psalm 78:1 | Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth. |
| 5 | Psalm 90:12 | So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בֵּן, Be.nigenerated
The word בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'child' and signifies a connection to family or lineage. It can refer to descendants or even figurative uses, such as members of a tribe or class. In this verse, it establishes a personal relationship between the speaker and the listener, emphasizing the importance of the father's guidance.
The parsing indicates that it is a noun in the singular form, showing that the father is addressing one specific son, which adds to the intimacy of the instruction.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה, be attentive, which governs the entire instruction. The structure includes a noun phrase indicating the subject, followed by two prepositional phrases that elaborate on what the son should pay attention to.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the action of listening, highlighting its importance in the context of the father's teachings.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, בֵּן is translated as υἱέ (huios), which also means 'son'. This choice maintains the familial connection present in the Hebrew text.
The translation of הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה as πρόσεξε (prosexe) emphasizes the call to pay close attention, similar to the Hebrew imperative, reinforcing the urgency of the father's instruction.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 4:20 shows a father telling his son to listen carefully to his words and teachings. This advice highlights the importance of wisdom and understanding, suggesting that paying attention to good instruction is vital for a successful life.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means to listen carefully and consider the teachings being shared, which can lead to greater understanding and wisdom.
Inclining your ear signifies an active effort to understand and absorb the teachings, which is essential for personal growth.
You can apply this verse by being open to wise counsel and actively listening to teachings that promote understanding and good decision-making.
The father-son relationship here emphasizes guidance and instruction, where the father seeks to impart wisdom to his son.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some teachings in my life that I need to pay more attention to?
- How can I be more attentive to wise advice from others?
- In what ways can I encourage others to listen to wise teachings?
- What steps can I take to ensure I understand the wisdom being shared with me?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 4:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleMy son, attend to my words,.... Which go before and which follow after, his doctrines, instructions, cautions, and exhortations; incline thine ear unto my sayings; stoop and bow the ear; listen
Read John Gill on Proverbs 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMy son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings - a fresh call to serious attention, because of our tendency to spiritual torpor (cf. Proverbs 4:1).
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.Ver. 20. My son, attend to my words.] Still he calls for attention, as knowing our dulness and fickle headedness. It fared with the prophet Zechariah as with a drowsy person, who, though awaked and set to work, is ready to sleep at it. It fares with many of us as with little children, who, though saying their lessons, yet must needs look off to see the feather that flies by them.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 4 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings.
Tyndale line
¶ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
My son, attend to my words; incline thy ear to my sayings.
My sonne, hearken vnto my wordes, incline thine eare vnto my sayings.
Strictly literal
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
My son, give attention to my words, || Incline your ear to my sayings,
My son, attend to my words, unto my sayings incline thy ear.
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
From the Latin
My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings.
Simplified
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with four out of six words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the verse's message across these texts.
בְּ֭נִי לִדְבָרַ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לַ֝אֲמָרַ֗י הַט־ אָזְנֶֽךָ׃
4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 4:20
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp1bs
קָשַׁב (qashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to listen or pay attention, particularly with reference to inclining one's ears. It encompasses actions like hearkening and giving heed. The word appears in contexts such as Isaiah 32:3, where it emphasizes attentiveness. The entries consistently describe its usage in both the Qal and Hiphil forms.
[קָשַׁב] 46 vb. incline, attend, of ears
Qal Is 32:3
Hiph. give attention
base
H7181 קָשַׁב incline, attend, of ears
7181 qashab kaw-shab'
a primitive root; to prick up the ears, i.e.
hearken:--attend, (cause to) hear(-ken), give heed, incline,
mark (well), regard.
קָשַׁב (qa.shav) — to listen.
1) to hear, be attentive, heed, incline (of ears), attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen
1a) (Qal) incline, attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen
1b) (Hiphil) to pay attention, give attention
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVhv2ms/Sh
The Hebrew word אֹמֶר (*'omer*) refers to an utterance, speech, or word, often used in a poetic or exalted context. It is derived from the root meaning 'to say' and encompasses meanings like saying, promise, and command. The entries collectively emphasize its use in elevated language.
אֹמֶר n.m. utterance, speech, word, only poet., & exalted style
base
H561 אֹמֶר utterance, speech, word, only poet., & exalted style
561 'emer ay'-mer
from 559; something said:--answer, X appointed unto him,
saying, speech, word.
see HEBREW for 0559
אֵמֶר (e.mer) — word.
utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp1bs
נָטָה (natah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out, spread out, or extend. It encompasses a wide range of actions, including bending, inclining, and pitching a tent. The word can also imply moral deflection or turning aside. The entries suggest various applications, from physical actions to metaphorical uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement among the lexicons.
נָטָה 215 vb. stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
Qal
stretch out, extend, hand, rod
stretch line and plummet
= offer
Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
Bend, turn, incline
Niph. be stretched out
Hiph.
rarely stretch out, hand
rarely spread out cloth on rock
usu. turn, incline
base
H5186 נָטָה stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend .. . stretch out, extend, hand, rod
. stretch line and plummet
. = offer
. Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent
. Bend, turn, incline
. be stretched out
. . rarely stretch out, hand
. rarely spread out cloth on rock
. usu. turn, incline
5186 natah naw-taw'
a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication,
to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great
variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow
(down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down,
be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched,
overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread
(out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away),
wrest, cause to yield.
נָטָה (na.tah) — to stretch.
1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer
1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent)
1a3) to bend, turn, incline
1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down
1a3b) to bend, bow
1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.)
1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to stretch out
1c2) to spread out
1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singularHVhv2ms
The Hebrew word אֹ֫זֶן (*ozen*) means 'ear' and is derived from a root that suggests broadness. It refers to the physical ear as well as the organ of hearing, and can also imply the act of revealing or receiving divine revelation. The term appears in contexts such as Exodus 29:20.
אֹ֫זֶן 188 n.f. Ex 29:20 ear
ear, as part of body
especially as organ of hearing
open ears of, reveal to
base
H241 אֹ֫זֶן ear
241 'ozen o'-zen
from 238; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form
in man):--+ advertise, audience, + displease, ear, hearing, +
show.
see HEBREW for 0238
אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) — ear.
: ear
1) ear, as part of the body
2) ear, as organ of hearing
3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) — ear: hearing.
: hearing
1) ear, as part of the body
2) ear, as organ of hearing
3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) — ear: to ears.
: to[ears_of](PERSON)
1) ear, as part of the body
2) ear, as organ of hearing
3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp2ms