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Proverbs 5:1 — Word Study

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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]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 5
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('a.ze.Ne.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 5:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe father advises his son to pay close attention to wisdom and understanding.
Who is speakingA father, addressing his son.
Where we areIn a section of Proverbs focused on wisdom and guidance.
The hard wordחָכְמָה
Take awayWisdom and understanding are essential for making good choices.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them › clause verbנָטָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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

1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,
2that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil,
4in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.

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

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 2:1My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
2Proverbs 4:1–20Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
3Matthew 3:9And 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.
4Mark 4:23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
5Revelation 2:7–11He 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

What does the father want the son to pay attention to?

The father wants the son to pay attention to his wisdom and understanding, which are essential for making good decisions.

Why is wisdom important in this context?

Wisdom is crucial for navigating relationships and moral choices, helping the son to avoid negative influences.

How can I apply this advice in my own life?

You can apply this advice by seeking wisdom and understanding in your decisions, listening to guidance from trusted sources.

What are some examples of wisdom in the Bible?

Examples of wisdom in the Bible include the teachings found in Proverbs, the life of Solomon, and the parables of Jesus.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek wisdom and understanding?
  2. How can I better listen to the guidance of those who care for me?
  3. What steps can I take to avoid negative influences in my relationships?
  4. 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.

Gregory the DialogistThe Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 14 c. 540–604
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 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
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 Bible

My 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 Commentary

My 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 Testaments

Proverbs 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 Bible

CHAPTER 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 Colleges

Tenth 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 Bible

The 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 Bible

TO , 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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,

NETBNew English Translation2006

My child, be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention to my understanding,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding:

RVARevised Version, American1894

My son, attend unto my wisdom; incline thine ear to my understanding:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

My son, attend to my wisdom, and bow thy ear to my understanding:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

My sonne, hearken vnto my wisedome, and incline thine eare vnto my knowledge.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

My son, attend unto my wisdom, incline thine ear to my understanding;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

My son! to my wisdom give attention, To mine understanding incline thine ear,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

My son! Give attention to my wisdom, || Incline your ear to my understanding,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

My son, attend unto my wisdom; to my understanding incline thou thy ear:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ears to my understanding,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen carefully as I explain what makes sense,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

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.

clauseclausenoun phraseבְּ֭נִmy.sonיmyclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseחָכְמָתִ֣wisdomיmyverb phrase · verbהַקְשִׁ֑יבָbeהattentiveclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ֝tonoun phraseתְבוּנָתִ֗understandingיmyverbהַטinclinenoun phrase · objectאָזְנֶֽearךָyour

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.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

בְּ֭נִי לְחָכְמָתִ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י הַט־ אָזְנֶֽךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בְּ֭נִיυἱέלְחָכְמָתִ֣יσοφίᾳהַקְשִׁ֑יבָהπρόσεξεלִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗יδὲהַט־παράβαλλεאָזְנֶֽךָ׃σὸν

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.

Proverbs 5:1בֵּןO son myO son myבֵּןחָכְמָהto wisdom mto wisdom myחָכְמָהקָשַׁבbe attentivbe attentive !קָשַׁבתְּבוּנָהto understato understandinתְּבוּנָהנָטָהinclineinclineנָטָהאֹ֫זֶןear yourear yourאֹ֫זֶןבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהחָכַםbe wisebe wiseחָכַםבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןאָזַןto listento listenאָזַןדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןתְּבוּנָהunderstandunderstandingתְּבוּנָהלְאֹםpeoplepeopleלְאֹםחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָהחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקזְרוֹעַarmarmזְרוֹעַתְּנוּךְlobelobeתְּנוּךְנָטָהto stretchto stretchנָטָה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

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.

O son my to wisdom my be attentive ! to understanding my incline ear your
בְּ֭נִיBe.ni O son my H1121 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Amplified meaning
beloved, descendant, child
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
O son my to wisdom my be attentive ! to understanding my incline ear your
לְחָכְמָתִ֣יle.cha.khe.ma.Ti to wisdom my H2451 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
153× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Wisdom refers to skill, prudence, or good judgment in areas like war, administration, or religion, as seen in the book of Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
insight, good judgment
Tyndale gloss
wisdom
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom

skill in war

wisdom, in administration

shrewdness, wisdom

wisdom, prudence in religious affairs

wisdom, ethical and religious

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2451 חָכְמָה wisdom . skill in war

. wisdom, in administration

. shrewdness, wisdom

. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs

. wisdom, ethical and religious

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2451 chokmah khok-maw'

from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom,

wisely, wit.

see HEBREW for 02449

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
O son my to wisdom my be attentive ! to understanding my incline ear your
הַקְשִׁ֑יבָהhak.Shi.vah be attentive ! H7181 Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
46× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To listen carefully is what this Hebrew word means, like pricking up your ears to hear something. It's used in many Bible verses, including Proverbs and Isaiah, to encourage people to pay attention. The KJV translates it as 'attend' or 'hear'.
Amplified meaning
listen carefully, give heed
Tyndale gloss
to listen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָשַׁב] 46 vb. incline, attend, of ears

Qal Is 32:3

Hiph. give attention

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7181 קָשַׁב incline, attend, of ears

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVhv2ms/Sh
O son my to wisdom my be attentive ! to understanding my incline ear your
לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗יlit.vu.na.Ti to understanding my H8394 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tabún means understanding or intelligence, implying skill or insight. It is translated as discretion, reason, or wisdom in the KJV Bible, referring to the act or faculty of understanding.
Amplified meaning
understanding, intelligence, discretion
Tyndale gloss
understanding
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּבוּנָה n.f. understanding

the act

the faculty

the object of knowledge

personified as teacher.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8394 תְּבוּנָה understanding

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
O son my to wisdom my be attentive ! to understanding my incline ear your
הַט־hat- incline H5186 Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singular
214× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To stretch or spread out, often used to describe physical movement, but also moral deflection, as seen in the story of Israel's decline in the book of Judges.
Amplified meaning
stretch, turn
Tyndale gloss
to stretch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singular
HVhv2ms
O son my to wisdom my be attentive ! to understanding my incline ear your
אָזְנֶֽךָ׃'a.ze.Ne.kha ear your H241 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
187× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for ear, referring to the body part or the ability to hear, is used in various contexts, including listening to God's voice in Psalm 40:6. It can also mean to uncover or reveal something, as in 1 Samuel 20:2.
Amplified meaning
ability to hear, understanding
Tyndale gloss
ear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹ֫זֶן 188 n.f. Ex 29:20 ear

ear, as part of body

especially as organ of hearing

open ears of, reveal to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H241 אֹ֫זֶן ear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp2ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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