The Meaning of Proverbs 6:23 Explained

Proverbs 6:23

KJV: For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

YLT: For a lamp is the command, And the law a light, And a way of life are reproofs of instruction,

Darby: For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching a light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

ASV: For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the commandment  [is] a lamp;  and the law  [is] light;  and reproofs  of instruction  [are] the way  of life: 

What does Proverbs 6:23 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 6

1  against indebtedness
6  idleness
12  and mischievousness
16  seven things detestable to God
20  the blessings of obedience
25  the mischief of unfaithfulness

What do the individual words in Proverbs 6:23 mean?

For a lamp the commandment [is] and the law a light and [are] the way of life Reproofs of instruction
כִּ֤י נֵ֣ר מִ֭צְוָה וְת֣וֹרָה א֑וֹר וְדֶ֥רֶךְ חַ֝יִּ֗ים תּוֹכְח֥וֹת מוּסָֽר

נֵ֣ר  a  lamp 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נִיר 
Sense: lamp.
מִ֭צְוָה  the  commandment  [is] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
וְת֣וֹרָה  and  the  law 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
א֑וֹר  a  light 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֹור  
Sense: light.
וְדֶ֥רֶךְ  and  [are]  the  way 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
חַ֝יִּ֗ים  of  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
תּוֹכְח֥וֹת  Reproofs 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: תֹּוכֵחָה 
Sense: rebuke, correction, reproof, punishment, chastisement.
מוּסָֽר  of  instruction 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מוּסָר  
Sense: discipline, chastening, correction.