Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
Parallel Translations
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Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
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Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
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Hearken unto thy father that begot thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
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Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (11)
Passages linked to Proverbs 23:22 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Proverbs 30:17 “The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother: the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
- Proverbs 1:8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
- John 19:26-27 Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home.
- Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
- Ephesians 6:1-2 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise:
- Deuteronomy 27:16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- Leviticus 19:3 “ ‘Each one of you shall respect his mother and his father. You shall keep my Sabbaths. I am Yahweh your God.
- Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and though they chasten him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his place. They shall tell the elders of his city, “This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” All the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall remove the evil from among you. All Israel shall hear, and fear.
- Proverbs 30:11 There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.
- Matthew 15:4-6 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,” he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
- Mark 7:10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (12 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 23:22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,…
Pro 23:22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
Ver. 22. Hearken to thy father, &c.] {See Trapp on "Pro 1:8"}
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And despise not thy mother when she is old,] Dr Taylor, martyr, said to his son, among other things, when he was to suffer: When thy mother is waxed old, forsake her not, but provide for her to thy power, and see that she lack nothing; for so will God bless thee, and give thee long life upon earth, and prosperity. {a}
{a} Acts and Mon.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain That begat thee; and therefore desires and seeks thy…
That begat thee; and therefore desires and seeks thy good in all his counsels.
When she is old; when the infirmity of age is added to that of her sex, which is apt to breed contempt.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,.... And who…
Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,.... And who has a true and hearty affection for thee, and whatever he says is for thy good and welfare, which he studies and has at heart; and who therefore also has an authority over thee, and what he enjoins ought to be strictly regarded; and, having lived longer in the world, must be thought to have a larger experience and knowledge of things, and therefore should be hearkened unto;
and despise not thy mother when she is old; despise not her counsels, instructions, and advice, though she is old; and because she is so, do not reject them as old wives' fables, or as the silly talk of an old woman, as young men are too apt to do.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 22. Despise not thy mother when she is…
Verse 22. Despise not thy mother when she is old.] A very necessary caution, as very old women are generally helpless, useless, and burdensome: yet these circumstances do not at all lessen the child's duty. And this duty is strengthened by the Divine command here given.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 23:22-25. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee…
Pro 23:22-25. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee — And who, therefore, desires and seeks thy good in all his counsels; and despise not thy mother when she is old — When the infirmity of age is added to that of her sex, which is apt to produce contempt. Buy the truth — Purchase a true and saving knowledge of God, and his will concerning thy salvation, upon any terms; spare no pains nor cost to obtain it; and sell it not — Do not forget it, nor forsake it for any worldly advantages, as unthinking backsliders frequently do; also wisdom and understanding — Whereby thou mayest be enabled to love and practice the truths known and received. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice — “For there is no greater joy a parent can have than to see his son take virtuous ways; which, as it is the only wisdom, so it gives both parents and children the highest pleasure and satisfaction.” Thy father and thy mother shall be glad — “Let not thy father and mother then want this singular pleasure; but, by thy well-doing, fill the heart of her that bare thee with joy and triumph; who, for all the pains and care she hath had in thy birth, and about thy education, desires no other requital but only this.” — Bishop Patrick. Thus Solomon twice urges the same consideration, as a powerful argument to prevail with all children, that are not void of natural affection, to labour to be wise and good, that so they may rejoice the hearts of their parents, to whom they are under such high and indelible obligations.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain "We have had fathers of our flesh, and we…
"We have had fathers of our flesh, and we gave them reverence." (Heb 12:9 .) Such is the rule of nature. Such is the law of God.†1 The wise man here enforces its special application to an aged parent — thy mother when she is old. Then surely love and reverence are doubly due. ’A thing comely and pleasant to see’ — says Bishop Hall — ’and worthy of honor from the beholder, is a child understanding the eye of his parent.’†2 More lovely still is this filial exercise, when the age of the child has naturally loosened the restraints of authority. Respect is then the effect of principle and gratitude. The child no more feels at liberty to despise his parent’s wishes, than if he were subject to their early discipline. The Scripture examples are beautiful patterns for our imitation. Isaac with Abraham;†3 Jacob with both his parents;†4 Joseph’s deference to his aged father, and desiring his blessing on his own children;†5 Moses with his father-in-law;†6 Ruth with her mother-in-law;†7 Solomon in the grandeur of royalty paying respect to his mother;†8 the Rechabites hearkening to their deceased father’s command;†9 and — above all the rest — the Savior’s tender care for his mother in his own dying agonies.†10
The contrary conduct is marked with the most awful reprobation.†11 It forms a part of the dark mass of heathen depravity,†12 and one of the signs of the "perilous times in the last days." (2Ti 3:1-2 .) The spectacle will ever bring a blot upon the child’s name and character. (Pro 19:26 .)
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But is not this trial of neglect the Lord’s chastening of foolish fondness of our children when young, of our unwise treatment, or inconsistent conduct? Sinful indulgence will always in the end make us despised in their eyes, and lay our authority in the dust for them to trample under foot. Christian dignity and consistency, on the other hand, command respect, even where they fail of producing the full practical results. (Pro 31:28 .) Oh! what need have we of Divine grace and wisdom, honorably to maintain parental responsibility!
Footnotes:
†1 Exo 20:12. Lev 19:3 . Eph 6:1-2 . Compare Pro 1:8 ; Pro 6:20 .
†2 Holy Observations, v.
†3 Gen 22:9.
†4 Gen 28:1-5.
†5 Gen 48:9-14.
†6 Exo 18:13-24.
†7 Rth 2:22-23.
†8 1Ki 2:19 .
†9 Jer 35:6.
†10 Joh 19:26-27. Dr. Taylor’s ’godly exhortations to his son,’ as Foxe writes in his exquisite Biography, ’is worthy of all youth to be marked’ - ’When thy mother is waxed old, forsake her not; but provide for her to thy power, and see that she lack nothing; for so will God bless thee, give thee long life upon earth, and prosperity, which I pray God to grant thee.’ Vol. vi. 692. Compare Sir 3:8-14 .
†11 Pro 20:20; Pro 30:17 . Deu 21:18-21 ; Deu 27:16 . Isa 3:5 .
†12 Rom 1:30.
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Hearken--that is, obey (Pro 1:8; Eph 6:1).
Hearken--that is, obey (Pro 1:8; Eph 6:1).
despise . . . old--Adults revere the parents whom, as children, they once obeyed.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 22. Despise not thy mother — A negative for…
22. Despise not thy mother — A negative for a positive precept — pay to thine aged mother all due deference and respect.
When… old — Some read, because she is old. Let not the infirmities of age lessen thy esteem for her.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Vers. 22-25. An octastich, containing an earnest exhortation to…
Vers. 22-25. An octastich, containing an earnest exhortation to the disciple.
That begat thee. This is a claim on the attention and obedience of the son. When she is old. When old age with its consequent infirmities comes upon thy mother, despise her not, but rather thank God for giving her long life, and profit by her love and long experience (comp. Ecc_3:1, etc., where the exhortation to honour parents is very full and touching).
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The mighty Redeemer.
I THE HELPLESS NEED A MIGHTY REDEEMER. In simple, rough times some provision had to be made to protect the weak from the overbearing insolence and tyranny of the strong. When the arm of the law was not capable of maintaining justice, private friends were required and authorized to take up the cause of the wronged. The goel, or avenger, was then needed to stand up for his helpless kinsfolk. But there were extreme cases in which no such assistance could bring deliverance, either because no relative was living who could undertake the task, or because the distress was so desperate that no human hand could relieve it. This might happen with heartbroken widows robbed of husband, children, and land, and left penniless and friendless. But even such cases of the utmost distress are not so desperate as that of the soul in its sin and wretchedness, utterly and hopelessly undone unless some mighty hand of redemption is stretched out to save it.
II GOD IS A MIGHTY REDEEMER. Two essential conditions were required in the redeemer. He must have a right to interfere, and he must have power to succeed. God has both.
1. The right. The right of the old Hebrew redeemer was blood relationship. The nearest kinsman was called to act as goel. God is nearly related to man. He is the Father of all. The friendless poor have One left who regards them as of his family. Christ came as a brother man to be the Redeemer of the human race.
2. The power.
(1) God has power as the Almighty. He can overthrow the greatest. If the poor man has God on his side, he need not fear the most imperious tyranny; it is as child"s play before the majesty of heaven.
(2) Christ has power as the crucified Saviour. The great redemption from man"s worst enemy, sin, is won by the cross of Christ. Now he is able to save unto the uttermost.
III GOD"S MIGHTY REDEMPTION IS AVAILABLE. He is not only a mighty Redeemer; he is willing to help, and he does afford succour.
1. He acts in justice. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?". (Gen_18:25) At present we witness cruel injustice. The poor are oppressed by the strong. Hard toiling men, women, and children in manufacturing centres are ground into penury by the fierce mill of competition, while ruthless "middle men" fatten on their ill-paid labour. The few in prosperity revel in luxury that they wring out of the many in penury. God will not permit such cruel wrongs to last forever. The Redeemer is an Avenger. The blood of the victims of those who make haste to be rich at the expense of their starving brethren cries out to heaven for vengeance. It will not always cry in vain.
(1) Meanwhile, seeing that the Redeemer of the poor is mighty, it would be well for the reckless oppressors to repent before the sword of judgment is unsheathed.
(2) They who are working at the apparently hopeless task of helping the poor and oppressed have a great encouragement. God, the mighty Avenger, is on their side.
2. He acts in mercy. He pities the suffering poor. They are his children, and he will not forget their needs. Love is the inspiration of Divine redemption.
This is the secret of Christ"s great redemption of sinners. Justice is ultimately satisfied here; but the first motive is mercy, for the helpless are also the ill-deserving. Yet even their Redeemer is mighty.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain v. 22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,…
v. 22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, in ready obedience to all his commands, and despise not thy mother when she is old, it being the tendency of young people to be ashamed of their aged parents and no longer to heed their counsel.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
These verses continue the "thirty sayings" (Proverbs 22:20).
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do not despise
This can be stated positively. AT: "show respect for" (See: Litotes)
Buy the truth, but do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding
Another possible meaning is "Buy the truth, and do not sell wisdom, instruction, or understanding." The words "truth," "wisdom," "instruction," and "understanding" are abstract nouns that are spoken of as if they were physical items that a person can buy and sell in a market. They can be translated as verbs. AT: "Do what you need to do so you can know what is true, so you can be wise, so you can learn how to act, and so you can tell good from bad; never think of anything else as more important than these things" (See: Abstract Nouns and Metaphor)
translationWords
true
wise
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 23:22-25 Saying 16: This saying is an exhortation to…
23:22-25 Saying 16: This saying is an exhortation to pursue the wisdom that a godly father and mother provide. Unlike other ancient Near East wisdom texts, Proverbs attributes wisdom to both father and mother (1:8; 6:20).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.