The Meaning of Proverbs 4:4 Explained

Proverbs 4:4

KJV: He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

YLT: And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.

Darby: And he taught me, and said unto me, Let thy heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live.

ASV: And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He taught  me also, and said  unto me, Let thine heart  retain  my words:  keep  my commandments,  and live. 

What does Proverbs 4:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 4:1-9 - The Counsels Of Experience.
Here are many duties! Be generous! Of course we must discriminate-to whom it is due; and we must be prudent-when it is in the power of thine hand, Proverbs 3:27. Moreover, be prompt, Proverbs 3:28. Don't stir up strife or take a mean advantage, Proverbs 3:29-30. In the presence of the prosperity of the violent and evil man, repress envy and recall Psalms 37:1-40.
The word translated secret in Proverbs 3:32 should be rendered "friendship." See Psalms 25:14. Remember that Jesus calls us into this sacred inner circle, John 15:15. Count on God blessing your home-life, Proverbs 3:33. Be lowly and claim your great inheritance, Proverbs 3:34-35. See Matthew 5:3.
We are next admitted into an ancient Hebrew home, Proverbs 4:1-9. We can hear the old patriarch advising his son, with deep and fond anxiety, that he should make the best of his life. What a difference would come over the land if fathers spoke more often like this! But to speak thus needs a background of noble living. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 4

1  persuades to wisdom
14  and to show wickedness
20  He exhorts to sanctification

What do the individual words in Proverbs 4:4 mean?

And He taught me and said to me let retain my words your heart Keep my commands and live
וַיֹּרֵ֗נִי וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לִ֗י יִֽתְמָךְ־ דְּבָרַ֥י לִבֶּ֑ךָ שְׁמֹ֖ר מִצְוֺתַ֣י וֶֽחְיֵֽה

וַיֹּרֵ֗נִי  And  He  taught  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: יׄורֶה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast, pour.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לִ֗י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
יִֽתְמָךְ־  let  retain 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: תָּמַךְ  
Sense: to grasp, hold, support, attain, lay hold of, hold fast.
דְּבָרַ֥י  my  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
לִבֶּ֑ךָ  your  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
שְׁמֹ֖ר  Keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
מִצְוֺתַ֣י  my  commands 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
וֶֽחְיֵֽה  and  live 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.