Proverbs 22:6

¶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Train up {H2596} a child {H5288} in the way {H1870} he should go {H6310}: and when he is old {H2204}, he will not depart {H5493} from it.

Train a child in the way he [should] go; and, even when old, he will not swerve from it.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 is a foundational verse in the Bible concerning parental responsibility and the enduring impact of childhood training. It offers a powerful maxim on the importance of early instruction in shaping a person's life trajectory.

Context

The book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom sayings, primarily attributed to King Solomon, designed to impart practical wisdom for righteous living. This verse falls within a section offering various pithy observations and instructions on moral conduct, social interactions, and the benefits of wisdom. It reflects the ancient Israelite understanding that the family unit was central to transmitting values, faith, and societal norms from one generation to the next. The emphasis here is on proactive and intentional guidance for children.

Key Themes

  • Parental Responsibility: The verse places a clear imperative on parents to actively engage in the upbringing of their children, highlighting their crucial role in character formation.
  • Intentional Training: "Train up" implies a deliberate, consistent, and purposeful effort, not merely passive exposure. It speaks to the dedication required for effective biblical parenting and discipleship.
  • The "Right Way": While debated by some, the most biblically consistent interpretation of "the way he should go" refers to the path of righteousness, wisdom, and adherence to God's commands. It signifies guiding a child in a manner consistent with divine truth and moral principles.
  • Lifelong Impact: The promise "when he is old, he will not depart from it" suggests that early, proper training establishes a deep-seated foundation that tends to endure throughout a person's life, even if there are temporary deviations.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "train up" is chanakh (חָנַךְ). This term literally means "to narrow," "to dedicate," or "to initiate." It's used elsewhere in the Old Testament for dedicating a house or a temple. This implies a careful, focused, and purposeful instruction that sets a person on a specific path, much like dedicating something to a particular use. It's not just about teaching facts, but about shaping character and habits from an early age.

The phrase "the way he should go" uses the Hebrew word derekh (דֶּרֶךְ), meaning "path" or "way." While some interpretations suggest tailoring the training to a child's individual bent or aptitude, the predominant and biblically sound view is that it refers to the way of the Lord, the path of wisdom and righteousness as revealed in God's law. This aligns with the overall purpose of Proverbs to guide individuals in walking in God's ways.

Reflection and Application

Proverbs 22:6 offers profound encouragement and a challenge to parents. It underscores that consistent, godly instruction during formative years lays a strong spiritual and moral foundation. While individual free will always plays a part, and the verse describes a general principle rather than an absolute guarantee, it highlights the immense influence of a Christ-centered upbringing.

For modern families, this verse calls for:

  • Intentional Discipleship: Actively teaching children biblical truths, prayer, and the importance of a relationship with God.
  • Modeling Godly Character: Parents living out the principles they teach, as children often learn more from observation than instruction.
  • Consistency: Maintaining a steady and unwavering commitment to moral and spiritual formation throughout a child's development.
  • Understanding the "Way": Ensuring the training is rooted in the "way of the Lord" – His commands, His character, and His love, much like Paul's instruction to bring up children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." The promise that they "will not depart from it" generally holds true for those whose lives are built upon a solid foundation of biblical truth.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ephesians 6:4

    And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

  • Deuteronomy 6:7

    And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

  • 2 Timothy 3:15

    And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

  • Genesis 18:19

    For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

  • Deuteronomy 4:9

    Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

  • Psalms 78:3

    Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

  • Psalms 78:6

    That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children:

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