Proverbs 7:24

¶ Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Hearken {H8085} unto me now therefore, O ye children {H1121}, and attend {H7181} to the words {H561} of my mouth {H6310}.

So now, children, listen to me; pay attention to what I am saying.

Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Now therefore, mysons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 7:24 serves as a crucial interjection within a lengthy warning from a father (or wisdom teacher) to his son (or disciple). After vividly describing the seductive tactics and dire consequences of the "strange woman" or adulteress, this verse is a direct, urgent call to attention, emphasizing the vital importance of heeding wisdom's instruction.

Context

This verse is strategically placed following the detailed narrative in Proverbs 7:6-23, where the teacher recounts observing a naive young man being ensnared by a cunning harlot. The preceding verses (Proverbs 7:1-5) had already urged the son to treasure wisdom's commands as a guard against this very danger. Therefore, verse 24 acts as a solemn pause, a renewed plea for the listener to internalize the profound lesson just presented, lest they fall victim to similar temptations. It highlights the serious nature of the warning and the father's earnest desire for his son's well-being, echoing the general theme of a father's instruction to his children found throughout Proverbs.

Key Themes

  • The Urgency of Heeding Wisdom: The repeated commands "Hearken" and "attend" underscore the critical necessity of not just hearing, but actively listening and applying wise counsel. In a world full of distractions and temptations, discerning and following truth is paramount.
  • Parental/Mentor's Plea: This verse beautifully illustrates the heart of a wise teacher or parent who genuinely desires their protégé to avoid pitfalls. It's a loving, yet firm, call to focus on life-preserving truths.
  • Discerning Life Paths: By calling for attention after a warning about destruction, the verse implicitly emphasizes that life presents choices, and wisdom is the principal thing required to choose the path of life over the path of death.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Hearken" (KJV) / "Listen" (modern translations): The Hebrew word is shema (שמע), which means much more than just to perceive sound. It implies listening with intent to understand and, crucially, to obey. It's a foundational concept in biblical thought, emphasizing active reception of instruction.
  • "Children" (KJV): The Hebrew banim (בנים) can refer to literal sons, but in the context of wisdom literature, it often extends to disciples or those under instruction. It signifies a relationship of learning and mentoring.
  • "Attend": The Hebrew qashab (קשב) reinforces shema, meaning to incline the ear, to give heed, or to pay close attention. The doubling of similar commands stresses the absolute importance of the message.

Practical Application

Proverbs 7:24 remains profoundly relevant today. In a society inundated with conflicting messages and alluring temptations, this verse reminds us of the critical need to:

  • Actively Listen to God's Word: Just as the father urged his son, God's Word calls us to be doers of the word, not hearers only. The Bible contains timeless wisdom that protects us from spiritual and moral dangers.
  • Seek and Heed Wise Counsel: Recognize the value of mentors, spiritual leaders, and trusted advisors who speak truth into our lives. Their warnings, though sometimes uncomfortable, are often life-saving.
  • Cultivate Discernment: Develop the ability to distinguish between voices that lead to life and those that lead to destruction. This requires a humble heart willing to learn and a mind focused on eternal truths, much like building one's house upon the rock of sound teaching.

The call to "hearken" and "attend" is a call to intentional living, a plea to prioritize wisdom in every decision.

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.

  • Proverbs 5:7

    Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

  • Proverbs 4:1

    ¶ Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

  • 1 John 2:1

    ¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

  • Proverbs 8:32

    ¶ Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.

  • Proverbs 8:33

    Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

  • Galatians 4:19

    ¶ My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

  • 1 Corinthians 4:14

    ¶ I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn [you].

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