The Meaning of Proverbs 22:6 Explained

Proverbs 22:6

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

YLT: Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.

Darby: Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

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

Discover Proverbs 22:6

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Proverbs 22:6?

MEANING: What does Proverbs 22:6 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Proverbs 22:6 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Proverbs 22:6?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Proverbs 22:6 Mean?

Study Notes

train up a child
See, Ephesians 6:4 ; 2 Timothy 3:15 .

Verse Meaning

"In the way he should go" is literally "according to his way." It may mean according to his personality, temperament, responses, or stage in life. On the other hand, it could mean the way in which he ought to go. The Hebrew grammar permits either interpretation. However the context favors the latter view. "Way" in Proverbs usually means the path a person takes through life, not one"s personality, disposition, or stage in life. Consequently, the verse is saying the parent should train up a child in the way of Wisdom of Solomon , i.e, to live in the fear of God. [1]
The second part of this verse has challenged the faith of many a godly parent. Obviously many children who have received good training have repudiated the way of wisdom later in life. The explanation for this seemingly broken promise lies in a correct understanding of what a proverb is.
"A proverb is a literary device whereby a general truth is brought to bear on a specific situation. Many of the proverbs are not absolute guarantees for they express truths that are necessarily conditioned by prevailing circumstances. For example, Proverbs 22:3-4; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 22:11; Proverbs 22:16; Proverbs 22:29 do not express promises that are always binding. Though the proverbs are generally and usually true, occasional exceptions may be noted. This may be because of the self-will or deliberate disobedience of an individual who chooses to go his own way-the way of folly instead of the way of wisdom . . . It is generally true, however, that most children who are brought up in Christian homes, under the influence of godly parents who teach and live God"s standards (cf. Ephesians 6:4), follow that training." [2]
This proverb clearly does not state a Scriptural promise. Rather, the revelation of Scripture elsewhere is that God allows people to make their own decisions. He does not force them to do what is right (cf. Proverbs 2:11-15; Proverbs 5:11-14; Ezekiel 18:20).
"In sum, the proverb promises the educator that his original, and early, moral initiative has a permanent effect on a person for good. But that is not the whole truth about religious education." [3]

Context Summary

Proverbs 22:1-16 - "he That Loveth Pureness Of Heart"
Great riches are not always a great blessing. When they are held in trust for God, they afford the opportunity of giving a vast amount of happiness to the benefactor as well as to those benefited. But we recall other riches, which do not consist in what a man has, but in what he is. There are four levels of human experience-to have, to do, to know, and to be-and these in their order are like iron, silver, gold, precious stones.
Some of these riches are enumerated here: a good name and loving favor, Proverbs 22:1; the faith that hides in God, Proverbs 22:3; true humility and godly fear, Proverbs 22:4; the child-heart, Proverbs 22:6; the beautiful eye and open hand, Proverbs 22:9; purity of heart and thought, Proverbs 22:11; alacrity and diligence, Proverbs 22:13. If only we would cultivate the inward graces and gifts of our soul-life, all who feel our influence would be proportionately enriched. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 22

1  A good name is more desirable than great wealth

What do the individual words in Proverbs 22:6 mean?

Train up a child in he should go the way and when he is old not he will depart from it
חֲנֹ֣ךְ לַ֭נַּעַר עַל־ פִּ֣י דַרְכּ֑וֹ גַּ֥ם כִּֽי־ יַ֝זְקִ֗ין לֹֽא־ יָס֥וּר מִמֶּֽנָּה

חֲנֹ֣ךְ  Train  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: חָנַךְ  
Sense: to train, dedicate, inaugurate.
לַ֭נַּעַר  a  child 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
פִּ֣י  he  should  go 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
דַרְכּ֑וֹ  the  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
יַ֝זְקִ֗ין  he  is  old 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: to be old, become old.
יָס֥וּר  he  will  depart 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
מִמֶּֽנָּה  from  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 22:6?

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Similar Scriptures for Proverbs 22:6

Ephesians 6:4 [46]
Deuteronomy 6:7 [39]
2 Timothy 3:15 [35]
Genesis 18:19 [26]
Psalms 78:3-6 [21]
Deuteronomy 4:9 [21]
1 Samuel 1:28 [17]
1 Samuel 2:26 [13]
1 Samuel 12:2-3 [13]
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