Proverbs 7:1

¶ My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

My son {H1121}, keep {H8104} my words {H561}, and lay up {H6845} my commandments {H4687} with thee.

My son, keep my words, store up my commands with you.

My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.

My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.

Commentary

Proverbs 7:1 serves as a foundational call to attention and obedience, setting the stage for the specific warnings that follow in the chapter. It highlights the crucial importance of internalizing wisdom and divine instruction for protection and guidance in life.

Context

This verse opens a significant section of Proverbs, specifically Proverbs Chapter 7, which focuses intensely on the danger of the adulterous woman. The initial admonition "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee" is not merely general advice but a vital prerequisite for understanding and resisting the seductions detailed immediately afterward. It positions wisdom as a shield against moral pitfalls, emphasizing that obedience to sound instruction is the primary defense against temptation and destruction. This fatherly counsel is characteristic of the book of Proverbs, which often presents wisdom as a path to life and folly as a path to death, as seen in Proverbs 4:1.

Key Themes

  • The Call to Obedience: The phrase "keep my words" is a direct command for adherence. It implies not just hearing but diligently guarding and obeying the instructions given. This theme of obedience is central to the wisdom literature, portraying it as the pathway to blessing and protection.
  • Internalization of Wisdom: "Lay up my commandments with thee" speaks to the necessity of internalizing truth. It suggests storing wisdom deep within one's heart and mind, making it an integral part of one's being, much like treasuring valuable possessions. This deep internalization makes wisdom readily accessible in moments of decision, as described in Psalm 119:11: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
  • Parental and Divine Guidance: The address "My son" underlines the deep, personal, and authoritative nature of the instruction. While presented as a father's advice to his son, it universally represents God's loving guidance to His people, urging them to heed His commandments for their well-being.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "keep" is nātsar (נָצַר), which means to guard, preserve, or watch over. It's a strong term implying active protection, not just passive retention. The phrase "lay up" comes from the Hebrew tsāphan (צָפַן), meaning to hide, store up, or treasure. This conveys the idea of valuing something so highly that one carefully conceals it for safekeeping, indicating the preciousness of the instructions being given.

Practical Application

For a general audience, Proverbs 7:1 emphasizes that spiritual and moral safety begins with a deliberate commitment to God's Word. In a world full of distractions and temptations, the ability to discern right from wrong and to stand firm against alluring evils depends on having God's truth deeply embedded within. This verse encourages believers to actively engage with biblical instruction, not just as information, but as vital principles to be guarded, treasured, and applied daily. Just as Jesus taught in John 14:15, keeping God's commandments is a demonstration of love and trust, leading to a life of wisdom and protection.

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Cross-References

  • Proverbs 1:8 (8 votes)

    My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

  • Revelation 1:3 (6 votes)

    ¶ Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.

  • Luke 11:28 (6 votes)

    But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

  • Proverbs 2:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

  • Proverbs 2:7 (5 votes)

    He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: [he is] a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

  • Revelation 22:9 (5 votes)

    Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

  • John 14:23 (5 votes)

    Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.