Proverbs 5:1 — Word Study
WLCבְּ֭נִי לְחָכְמָתִ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י הַט־ אָזְנֶֽךָ׃
BSAMy sonbên [beloved, descendant, child] pay attentionqâshab [listen carefully, give heed] to my wisdomchokmâh [insight, good judgment] inclinenâṭâh [stretch, turn] your earʼôzen [ability to hear, understanding] to my insighttâbûwn [understanding, intelligence, discretion]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּ֭נִי | O son my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| לְחָכְמָתִ֣י | to wisdom my | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה | be attentive ! | Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י | to understanding my | Preposition, noun common feminine singular 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 wisdom; incline your ear to my insight, |
| KJV | My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: |
| ASV | My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding: |
| YLT | My son! to my wisdom give attention, To mine understanding incline thine ear, |
| WEB | My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding, |
| BBE | My son, give attention to my wisdom; let your ear be turned to my teaching: |
Where they part company is לְחָכְמָתִי — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a subordinate imperative phrase, emphasizing the action the son is to take.






7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & 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 5:1
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 Call to Wisdomgenerated
Proverbs 5:1 is part of a series of teachings that emphasize the importance of wisdom and understanding in making choices, particularly in the context of relationships and moral decisions. The father encourages his son to listen closely to his insights, which are rooted in experience and divine guidance.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 2:1 | My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, |
| 2 | Proverbs 4:1–20 | Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. |
| 3 | Matthew 3:9 | And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. |
| 4 | Mark 4:23 | If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” |
| 5 | Revelation 2:7–11 | He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בֵּן, Be.nigenerated
The word בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'child' and is used here to express a familial relationship, indicating a close bond between the speaker and the listener. This term encompasses not only biological sons but can also refer to descendants or even metaphorically to members of a group.
The parsing as a noun in the construct state with a suffix shows that this is a possessive form, emphasizing the father's direct relationship to his son. The use of this term sets the tone for a personal and intimate 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 הַקְשִׁיבָה, be attentive, which governs the instruction to the son. The sentence structure is straightforward, with the subject followed by two key phrases that elaborate on what the son is to pay attention to: wisdom and understanding.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the call to action, with the imperative verb leading the sentence, making it clear that this is an urgent instruction.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בֵּן as υἱέ, which also means 'son'. This choice reflects a direct equivalence in familial terms, maintaining the personal address.
The Greek word for wisdom, σοφίᾳ, captures the same essence as the Hebrew term, indicating a continuity in the understanding of wisdom across both texts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 5:1 encourages a son to listen carefully to his father's wisdom and understanding. This advice is important for making wise choices in life and avoiding pitfalls, especially in relationships.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The father wants the son to pay attention to his wisdom and understanding, which are essential for making good decisions.
Wisdom is crucial for navigating relationships and moral choices, helping the son to avoid negative influences.
You can apply this advice by seeking wisdom and understanding in your decisions, listening to guidance from trusted sources.
Examples of wisdom in the Bible include the teachings found in Proverbs, the life of Solomon, and the parables of Jesus.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek wisdom and understanding?
- How can I better listen to the guidance of those who care for me?
- What steps can I take to avoid negative influences in my relationships?
- How does understanding the concept of wisdom help me in my daily decisions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, often discussing its implications for moral behavior and the importance of heeding wise counsel.
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my prudence, that thou mayest guard thy thoughts. For, indeed, nothing is more fugitive than the heart, which deserts us as often as it slips away through bad thoughts.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →
My son, attend to my wisdom, etc. Until now he had generally rebuked the listener; hence under the guise of the harlot, he prohibits from the wickedness of heretics.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 5:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleMy son, attend unto my wisdom,.... Not the wisdom of the world or of the flesh, worldly wisdom and carnal policy; but spiritual and evangelical wisdom; such as one that is greater than Solomon has in
Read John Gill on Proverbs 5 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMy son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: Proverbs 5:1-23.-Prefatory exhortation to the study of wisdom.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 5 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, [and] bow thine ear to my understanding:Ver. 1. My son, attend unto my wisdom.] Aristotle could say that young men are but cross and crooked hearers of moral philosophy, and have much need to be stirred up to diligent attendance. Fornication is by many of them held a peccadillo; and Aristotle spareth not to confess the disability of moral wisdom to rectify the intemperance of nature; which also he made good in his practice, for he used a common strumpet to satisfy his lust. Ethic., lib. vii. cap. 3,4.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 5 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleCHAPTER V Farther exhortations to acquire wisdom, 1, 2. The character of a loose woman, and the ruinous consequences of attachment to such, 3-14. Exhortations to chastity and moderation, 15-21. The miserable end of the wicked, 22, 23. NOTES ON CHAP. V Verse 1. Attend unto my wisdom] Take the following lessons from my own experience.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 5 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesTenth Address. Chap. 5. Proverbs 5:1-23 The subject of this chapter, of which the seventh commandment might be the title, is one throughout. Against the unholy passion to be shunned (Proverbs 5:1-14) is set the holy love to be cherished (Proverbs 5:15-23). 1. bow] Rather, incline, R.V., because the same Heb. word is so rendered Proverbs 4:20.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 5 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe formula of a new counsel, introducing another warning against the besetting sin of youth Proverbs 2:16.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 5 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleTO , Proverbs 5:1-14.In this chapter the royal sage renews his exhortations to acquire wisdom, (Proverbs 5:1-2;) and, as there is nothing which is more pernicious in general, and more detrimental to
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 5 →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 wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,
My child, be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention to my understanding,
Tyndale line
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding:
My son, attend unto my wisdom; incline thine ear to my understanding:
My son, attend to my wisdom, and bow thy ear to my understanding:
My sonne, hearken vnto my wisedome, and incline thine eare vnto my knowledge.
Strictly literal
My son, attend unto my wisdom, incline thine ear to my understanding;
My son! to my wisdom give attention, To mine understanding incline thine ear,
My son! Give attention to my wisdom, || Incline your ear to my understanding,
My son, attend unto my wisdom; to my understanding incline thou thy ear:
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ears to my understanding,
From the Latin
My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence.
Simplified
My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen carefully as I explain what makes sense,
My son, give attention to my wisdom; let your ear be turned to my teaching:
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 agree on the wording of this verse, with all six words matched in the translation. This consistency suggests a strong preservation of the original meaning across these texts.
בְּ֭נִי לְחָכְמָתִ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י הַט־ אָזְנֶֽךָ׃
6 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 5:1
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
חָכְמָה (chokmah) means wisdom and encompasses various forms of skill, including in war and administration, as well as shrewdness and ethical prudence. It is built from the root word for wisdom, חָכַם (chakam). The term appears in contexts related to both practical and religious matters.
חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom
skill in war
wisdom, in administration
shrewdness, wisdom
wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
wisdom, ethical and religious
base
H2451 חָכְמָה wisdom . skill in war
. wisdom, in administration
. shrewdness, wisdom
. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
. wisdom, ethical and religious
2451 chokmah khok-maw'
from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom,
wisely, wit.
see HEBREW for 02449
חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) — wisdom.
1) wisdom
1a) skill (in war)
1b) wisdom (in administration)
1c) shrewdness, wisdom
1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/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
תְּבוּנָה (tebunah) means understanding and encompasses intelligence, skill, and insight. It can refer to both the act of understanding and the faculty itself, as well as the object of knowledge. The term is personified as a teacher in some contexts.
תְּבוּנָה n.f. understanding
the act
the faculty
the object of knowledge
personified as teacher.
base
H8394 תְּבוּנָה understanding
8394 tabuwn taw-boon'
and (feminine) tbuwnah {teb-oo-naw'}; or towbunah
{to-boo-naw'}; from 995; intelligence; by implication, an
argument; by extension, caprice:--discretion, reason,
skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.
see HEBREW for 0995
תְּבוּנָה (ta.vu.nah) — understanding.
1) understanding, intelligence
1a) the act of understanding
1a1) skill
1b) the faculty of understanding
1b1) intelligence, understanding, insight
1c) the object of knowledge
1d) teacher (personification)
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/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
