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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 4:1–7

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
HEAR, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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7 selected · 3 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

34 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 1

  1. Hebrews 2:1Rank 1 from verse 1
    Open

    1THEREFORE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

  2. Psalms 34:11Rank 2 from verse 1
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    11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

  3. Proverbs 1:8Rank 3 from verse 1
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    8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

  4. Proverbs 2:1–5Rank 4 from verse 1
    Open

    1MY son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

    2So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

    3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

    4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

    5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

  5. 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12Rank 5 from verse 1
    Open

    11As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

    12That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

From verse 2

  1. 1 Timothy 4:6Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

  2. Deuteronomy 32:2Rank 2 from verse 2
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    2My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

  3. Titus 1:9Rank 3 from verse 2
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    9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

  4. Job 33:3Rank 4 from verse 2
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    3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

  5. Proverbs 8:6–9Rank 5 from verse 2
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    6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

    7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

    8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

    9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

From verse 3

  1. 1 Chronicles 22:5Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    5And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

  2. 1 Chronicles 29:1Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    1FURTHERMORE David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.

  3. Romans 12:16Rank 3 from verse 3
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    16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

  4. 1 Chronicles 3:5Rank 4 from verse 3
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    5And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel:

  5. 1 Kings 1:13–17Rank 5 from verse 3
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    13Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

    14Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

    15¶ And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

    16And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

    17And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

From verse 4

  1. Proverbs 3:1Rank 1 from verse 4
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    1MY son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

  2. Ephesians 6:4Rank 2 from verse 4
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    4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

  3. John 12:50Rank 3 from verse 4
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    50And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

  4. 1 Chronicles 28:9Rank 4 from verse 4
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    9¶ And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

  5. Proverbs 7:2Rank 5 from verse 4
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    2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

From verse 5

  1. James 1:5Rank 1 from verse 5
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    5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  2. Proverbs 3:13–18Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    13¶ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

    14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

    15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

    16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

    17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

    18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

  3. 2 Chronicles 34:2Rank 3 from verse 5
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    2And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

  4. Proverbs 1:22–23Rank 4 from verse 5
    Open

    22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

    23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

  5. Psalms 44:18Rank 5 from verse 5
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    18Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;

From verse 6

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:10Rank 1 from verse 6
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    10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

  2. Proverbs 4:21–22Rank 2 from verse 6
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    21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

    22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

  3. Ephesians 3:17Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

  4. Proverbs 2:10–12Rank 4 from verse 6
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    10¶ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

    11Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

    12To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

From verse 7

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:12Rank 1 from verse 7
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    12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

  2. Ecclesiastes 9:16–18Rank 2 from verse 7
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    16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

    17The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

    18Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

  3. Proverbs 23:23Rank 3 from verse 7
    Open

    23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

  4. Proverbs 16:16Rank 4 from verse 7
    Open

    16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

  5. Philippians 3:8Rank 5 from verse 7
    Open

    8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 4:1

COMBINED MEANING

hear

↗

Sense 1: To perceive sound or spoken words. Sense 2: To receive or learn by report. Sense 3: To listen to, regard, or heed. Sense 4: To attend favourably to a request.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

children

↗

Sons or daughters; descendants; or persons likened to children by age, relation, or character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

instruction

↗

Teaching or information that directs understanding and conduct; correction, discipline, or an instructive warning.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

father

↗

Sense 1: A male parent or begetter. Sense 2: An ancestor, forefather, founder, source, originator, chief, elder, or one bearing paternal authority and care. Sense 3: God as Father, including the Father of Jesus Christ and of those described as his children.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

attend

↗

1. To give heed, listen, or direct attention toward. 2. To wait upon, serve, or devote oneself to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

know

↗

To perceive, understand, recognize, experience, or be assured of something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

understanding

↗

1. The capacity or act of perceiving, comprehending, discerning, judging, interpreting, or applying knowledge. 2. Knowledge, insight, wisdom, or prudent judgment possessed or gained. 3. Skill or ability in a work, art, subject, vision, saying, or interpretation.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 4:2

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

you

↗

The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

doctrine

↗

That which is taught; teaching or instruction.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604 · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

forsake

↗

To leave, abandon, desert, reject, renounce, cease following, or withdraw from a person, place, way, command, duty, affection, or former course.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

law

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative rule, command, ordinance, instruction, standard, or body of requirements. Sense 2: The writings containing such instruction. Sense 3: A governing principle, power, regular order, or civil rule. Sense 4: In family compounds, relationship by marriage.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 4:3

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sight

↗

1. The act or power of seeing. 2. A thing seen, view, or appearance. 3. Presence or observation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mother

↗

Sense 1: A female parent. Sense 2: Figuratively, a source, chief city, or maternal relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 4:4

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

retain

↗

To hold or keep in possession; not to lose or part with or dismiss.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

words

↗

Spoken or written expressions, sayings, statements, messages, commands, promises, reports, or units of meaningful speech.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

keep

↗

To guard, watch, protect, preserve, secure, retain, possess, hold, maintain, support, tend, manage, observe, obey, fulfil, celebrate, continue in, refrain from, or remain faithful to a person, place, trust, command, promise, way, time, or thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

commandments

↗

Commands, orders, or prescribed requirements issued by one who commands.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

live

↗

Sense 1: As a verb, to have or continue in life; to remain alive, be restored to life, or not die. Sense 2: To dwell, abide, or continue in a place, state, relation, or manner of life. Sense 3: To subsist or be sustained by or upon what is named. Sense 4: As an adjective, alive rather than dead; or containing fire and not extinguished.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 4:5

COMBINED MEANING

get

↗

To procure; to obtain; to gain possession of, by almost any means.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

understanding

↗

1. The capacity or act of perceiving, comprehending, discerning, judging, interpreting, or applying knowledge. 2. Knowledge, insight, wisdom, or prudent judgment possessed or gained. 3. Skill or ability in a work, art, subject, vision, saying, or interpretation.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

forget

↗

To fail or cease to remember; to lose from mind; to neglect or disregard.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

neither

↗

1. Also not; nor, introducing or joining a further negative statement or prohibition. 2. Not either, or none, of the alternatives named, commonly in a neither ... nor construction.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

decline

↗

To turn, bend, or depart aside from a way, word, judgment, duty, or course; to refuse or fall away from following it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604 · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

words

↗

Spoken or written expressions, sayings, statements, messages, commands, promises, reports, or units of meaningful speech.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mouth

↗

Sense 1: The bodily opening used for eating, breathing, and speaking. Sense 2: The opening or entrance of a thing. Sense 3: Speech, utterance, or the agency of speaking.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 4:6

COMBINED MEANING

forsake

↗

To leave, abandon, desert, reject, renounce, cease following, or withdraw from a person, place, way, command, duty, affection, or former course.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

preserve

↗

To keep safe from harm, loss, decay, or destruction; to protect, maintain, or save.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

love

↗

Sense 1: Affection, attachment, delight, goodwill, commitment, or devotion. Sense 2: To regard with affection or devotion. Sense 3: A beloved person.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

keep

↗

To guard, watch, protect, preserve, secure, retain, possess, hold, maintain, support, tend, manage, observe, obey, fulfil, celebrate, continue in, refrain from, or remain faithful to a person, place, trust, command, promise, way, time, or thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 4:7

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

principal

↗

Sense 1: First, chief, or highest in rank or importance. Sense 2: A chief person or leading thing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

get

↗

To procure; to obtain; to gain possession of, by almost any means.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

understanding

↗

1. The capacity or act of perceiving, comprehending, discerning, judging, interpreting, or applying knowledge. 2. Knowledge, insight, wisdom, or prudent judgment possessed or gained. 3. Skill or ability in a work, art, subject, vision, saying, or interpretation.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

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READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

1HEAR, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

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2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

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3For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

Selected passage

4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Selected passage

5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Selected passage

6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Selected passage

7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Selected passage

8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

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