Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Proverbs 4:20-23

PROVERBS—NOTE ON Proverbs 4:20 The commands in vv. Proverbs 4:20 all encourage making wisdom a vital part of one’s life. Heart in Proverbs 1:1 refers to the center of one’s inner life. It is from this place that a person does all thinking, feeling, and choosing. Taking words of wisdom into the heart is of the greatest importance (they are life), because out of the heart flow all the thoughts, words, and choices of a person’s life (from it flow the springs of life; see Mark 7:21; Luke 6:45).

⇐ ⇔ ⇒
Continues after advertising

See also Proverbs 4:20-23 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    The counsel which has come to him, in substance, from his father. Compare it with 2 Samuel 23:2 etc.; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17;...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Solomon's training (Proverbs 4:1)_ 2. Hear, O my son: Receive my sayings (Proverbs 4:10) 3. My son, attend to my words. (Proverbs 4:20)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WORDS. Hebrew. _dabar._ App-73....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT Proverbs 4:20-27 20. My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. 22. For they are life unt...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    My 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 spiritu...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    4:20 words; (b-6) sayings. (b-12) 'Words,' _ dabar_ ; 'sayings,' _ omer_ ; Psalms 119:11 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ANCESTRAL WISDOM. THE TWO PATHS In Proverbs 4:1 the teacher lays stress on the fact that his instruction is a repetition of his father's. No teaching was thought valuable save that which was handed do...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Wise words are like medicine. They benefit every part of our bodies....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    These verses show us the subject of this passage. Each chapter of Proverbs 1:7 begins in a similar style. Here the subject is health. Wisdom is like a medicine, because wisdom improves our lives. Unli...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 4 V1 My sons, listen to your father’s instruction. As you listen to me, you will understand more....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    בְּ֭נִי לִ דְבָרַ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לַ֝ אֲמָרַ֗י...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 5 EDUCATION: THE CHILD'S THOUGHT OF THE PARENT "Wisdom doth live with children round her knees." - Wordsworth. "He taught me, and said unto me," etc. Proverbs 4:4 THIS chapter begins with a...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    GUIDE-POSTS ON THE WAY OF LIFE Proverbs 4:10-27 One or two sentences stand out in this section, demanding special attention. _The path of the just, etc_., Proverbs 4:18. We may compare this beautiful...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In this chapter there are three addresses. The first is of the nature of personal testimony (verses Pro 4:1-9). The next two are exhortations to fidelity (verses Pro 4:10-27). The father urges his own...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to al...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 9. There are two very distinct parts in this book. The first nine Chapter s, which give the great general principles; and the proverbs, properly so...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    MY 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 atten...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 pr...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings, the admonition and warning going out once more, with a special reference to the ruinous consequences which the forgetting and ignoring of...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    WARNING AGAINST WICKEDNESS...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a d...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    No text from Poole on this verse....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Proverbs 4:20 son H1121 attention H7181 (H8685) words H1697 Incline H5186 (H8685) ear H241 sayings H561...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A GENERAL APPEAL TO HEAR HIS WORDS AND SAYINGS, AND INSTRUCTIONS WITH REGARD TO HIS HEART, MOUTH, EYES AND FEET (PROVERBS 4:20). Solomon urges those who hear him and read his words to take them to hea...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Earnest exhortation to the study of true wisdom. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon, his son. CONCLUSION: True wisdom from God is the principle thing. It is that which recommends us to God, which be...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Proverbs 4:1. _Hear, ye children,_ a Hebraism, equivalent to wash, cleanse, and purify your ears. A grateful son here recites the domestic piety of an illustrious father. David talked much with his ch...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _My son, attend to my words._ DIVINE PRINCIPLES “The words of wisdom” are the vehicles of those Divine principles the reception and embodiment of which by man are essential to his well-being. I. Th...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 4:22. HEALTH, or “healing.” PROVERBS 4:23. “Above all other watching, keep thy heart,” some read: “Keep thy heart with all (kinds of) keeping.” _Issues_—“currents,” “outgoi...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PROVERBS 4:1 7. _Seventh admonitory discourse. _We here enter upon the second group of admonitory discourses, as is indicated by the opening address, "my children," and which occurs again...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Continuing to his son. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend that you might know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, don't forsake my law. For I was my father's son, ten...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Isaiah 55:3; Matthew 17:5; Proverbs 5:1; Proverbs 6:20; Proverbs 6:21;

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    SACRED EXHORTATIONS Proverbs 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS It is well, now and then, to step aside and consider what God has to say to young men and women; as well as to consider what He says to their fath...

Continues after advertising