The Meaning of Proverbs 1:9 Explained

Proverbs 1:9

KJV: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

YLT: For a graceful wreath are they to thy head, And chains to thy neck.

Darby: for they shall be a garland of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

ASV: For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For they [shall be] an ornament  of grace  unto thy head,  and chains  about thy neck. 

What does Proverbs 1:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 1:1-19 - "the Beginning Of Knowledge"
Notice the perfect balance of each clause, and the duplication of the one thought in the two clauses of each verse.
Wisdom as used in this book is more than intellectual learning or cleverness. It represents a moral quality, the result of a pure and a true life. We are conscious that many simple-minded people, who have little enough book-learning, are remarkable for sagacious advice, insight into character, the wise reading of events, an intuitive knowledge-all based on the fear of God. The headlines of Scotch copy-books used to be taken from this book. Certain it is that the young who ponder and practice these maxims can hardly fail of a successful career. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 1

1  The use of the proverbs
7  An exhortation to fear God, and believe his word
10  to avoid the enticing of sinners
20  Wisdom complains of her contempt
24  She threatens her contemners

What do the individual words in Proverbs 1:9 mean?

for a ornament graceful they [will be] on your head and chains about your neck
כִּ֤י ׀ לִוְיַ֤ת חֵ֓ן הֵ֬ם לְרֹאשֶׁ֑ךָ וַ֝עֲנָקִ֗ים לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶֽיךָ

לִוְיַ֤ת  a  ornament 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: לִוְיָה  
Sense: wreath.
חֵ֓ן  graceful 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵן  
Sense: favour, grace, charm.
הֵ֬ם  they  [will  be] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
לְרֹאשֶׁ֑ךָ  on  your  head 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
וַ֝עֲנָקִ֗ים  and  chains 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֲנָק  
Sense: necklace, neck-pendant.
לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶֽיךָ  about  your  neck 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: גַּרְגְּרֹות  
Sense: neck (always fig.