The Meaning of Proverbs 23:12 Explained

Proverbs 23:12

KJV: Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

YLT: Bring in to instruction thy heart, And thine ear to sayings of knowledge.

Darby: Apply thy heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

ASV: Apply thy heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Apply  thine heart  unto instruction,  and thine ears  to the words  of knowledge. 

What does Proverbs 23:12 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 23

1  Consider carefully what is before you

What do the individual words in Proverbs 23:12 mean?

Apply to instruction your heart and your ears to words of knowledge
הָבִ֣יאָה לַמּוּסָ֣ר לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝אָזְנֶ֗ךָ לְאִמְרֵי־ דָֽעַת

הָבִ֣יאָה  Apply 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לַמּוּסָ֣ר  to  instruction 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מוּסָר  
Sense: discipline, chastening, correction.
לִבֶּ֑ךָ  your  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
וְ֝אָזְנֶ֗ךָ  and  your  ears 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, fdc, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹזֶן  
Sense: ear, as part of the body.
לְאִמְרֵי־  to  words 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֵמֶר 
Sense: utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command.
דָֽעַת  of  knowledge 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.