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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/20_Pro_01_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Proverbs 1:8 - The Enticement of Sin" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/proverbs/1-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/proverbs/1-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/proverbs/">Proverbs</a> > <a href="/proverbs/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/proverbs/1-7.htm" title="Proverbs 1:7">◄</a> Proverbs 1:8 <a href="/proverbs/1-9.htm" title="Proverbs 1:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/proverbs/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/proverbs/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Listen, my son, to your father&#8217s instruction and do not forsake your mother&#8217s teaching.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, And do not ignore your mother’s teaching;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Hear, my son, your father&#8217s instruction And do not forsake your mother&#8217s teaching;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Hear, my son, your father’s discipline And do not abandon your mother’s instruction;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not reject the teaching of your mother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Listen, my son, to your father&#8217s instruction, and don&#8217t reject your mother&#8217s teaching, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />My child, obey the teachings of your parents, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />My son, listen to your father's discipline, and do not neglect your mother's teachings,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/1.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not let go of your mother's teaching.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Hear, my son, the instruction of your father, "" And do not leave the law of your mother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and thou shalt not reject the law of thy mother:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother : <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not your mother’s teaching; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Hear, my child, your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teaching;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Hear, my son, the ordinance of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Hear, my son, the law of your father and do not forget the law of your mother.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the teaching of thy mother;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Hear, <i>my</i> son, the instruction of thy father, and reject not the rules of thy mother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/1-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=43" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/1.htm">The Enticement of Sin</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: šə·ma‘ (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">Listen,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">my son,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇî·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">to your father’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/4148.htm" title="4148: mū·sar (N-msc) -- Discipline, chastening, correction. From yacar; properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint.">instruction,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5203.htm" title="5203: tiṭ·ṭōš (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to pound, i.e. Smite; by implication to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon.">and do not forsake</a> <a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: wə·’al- (Conj-w:: Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8451.htm" title="8451: tō·w·raṯ (N-fsc) -- Direction, instruction, law. Or torah; from yarah; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch.">the teaching</a> <a href="/hebrew/517.htm" title="517: ’im·me·ḵā (N-fsc:: 2ms) -- A mother. A primitive word; a mother; in a wide sense (like 'ab).">of your mother.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/6-1.htm">Ephesians 6:1-3</a></span><br />Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. / “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-6.htm">Deuteronomy 6:6-7</a></span><br />These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-20.htm">Colossians 3:20</a></span><br />Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-12.htm">Exodus 20:12</a></span><br />Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/6-20.htm">Proverbs 6:20-23</a></span><br />My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. / Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck. / When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/23-22.htm">Proverbs 23:22-25</a></span><br />Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. / Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding. / The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/19-3.htm">Leviticus 19:3</a></span><br />Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-4.htm">Matthew 15:4-6</a></span><br />For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ / But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ / he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-18.htm">Deuteronomy 21:18-21</a></span><br />If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined, / his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown, / and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-14.htm">2 Timothy 3:14-15</a></span><br />But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. / From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/4-1.htm">Proverbs 4:1-4</a></span><br />Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. / For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive. / When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/13-1.htm">Proverbs 13:1</a></span><br />A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/15-5.htm">Proverbs 15:5</a></span><br />A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/12-9.htm">Hebrews 12:9</a></span><br />Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/30-17.htm">Proverbs 30:17</a></span><br />As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother:</p><p class="hdg">my son</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/1-10.htm">Proverbs 1:10,15</a></b></br> My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/2-1.htm">Proverbs 2:1</a></b></br> My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/3-1.htm">Proverbs 3:1</a></b></br> My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:</p><p class="hdg">hear</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/4-1.htm">Proverbs 4:1-4</a></b></br> Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/5-1.htm">Proverbs 5:1,2</a></b></br> My son, attend unto my wisdom, <i>and</i> bow thine ear to my understanding: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/6-20.htm">Proverbs 6:20</a></b></br> My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/143-1.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/psalms/45-10.htm">Father's</a> <a href="/psalms/138-8.htm">Forsake</a> <a href="/proverbs/1-5.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/proverbs/1-7.htm">Instruction</a> <a href="/psalms/119-153.htm">Law</a> <a href="/psalms/131-2.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/psalms/139-13.htm">Mother's</a> <a href="/psalms/132-10.htm">Reject</a> <a href="/proverbs/1-7.htm">Teaching</a> <a href="/job/5-17.htm">Training</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/1-33.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/proverbs/4-1.htm">Father's</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-13.htm">Forsake</a> <a href="/proverbs/4-1.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-11.htm">Instruction</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-1.htm">Law</a> <a href="/proverbs/4-3.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-20.htm">Mother's</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-11.htm">Reject</a> <a href="/proverbs/1-30.htm">Teaching</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-11.htm">Training</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/1-1.htm">The use of the proverbs</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/1-7.htm">An exhortation to fear God, and believe his word</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/1-10.htm">to avoid the enticing of sinners</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/1-20.htm">Wisdom complains of her contempt</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/1-24.htm">She threatens her contemners</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/proverbs/1.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Listen, my son</b><br />The Hebrew word for "listen" is "שְׁמַע" (shema), which implies not just hearing but also obeying and internalizing what is heard. This word is foundational in Jewish tradition, as seen in the Shema prayer, which calls for attentive obedience to God's commandments. The phrase "my son" indicates a personal and intimate relationship, suggesting that the wisdom imparted is not just for the general public but is a personal legacy from parent to child. This reflects the biblical emphasis on the family as the primary unit for spiritual and moral education.<p><b>to your father’s instruction</b><br />The term "instruction" comes from the Hebrew "מוּסָר" (musar), which encompasses discipline, correction, and moral guidance. In ancient Israel, the father was often seen as the head of the household, responsible for the spiritual and ethical upbringing of his children. This phrase underscores the importance of paternal guidance in shaping a child's character and values. The historical context of a patriarchal society places significant weight on the father's role in imparting wisdom and ensuring the continuity of faith and tradition.<p><b>and do not forsake</b><br />The Hebrew word for "forsake" is "תִּטֹּשׁ" (titosh), which means to abandon or leave behind. This is a strong admonition against neglecting or disregarding the teachings received. In the biblical context, forsaking wisdom is often equated with folly and leads to destructive paths. The use of this word serves as a warning to remain steadfast and committed to the teachings that provide a foundation for righteous living.<p><b>your mother’s teaching</b><br />The word "teaching" is derived from the Hebrew "תּוֹרָה" (torah), which is often translated as "law" but more broadly refers to instruction or doctrine. The inclusion of the mother's role highlights the dual responsibility of both parents in the education of their children. In the ancient Near Eastern context, mothers were integral in nurturing and instructing their children in daily life and spiritual matters. This phrase affirms the value of maternal wisdom and the balanced partnership in parenting, emphasizing that both parents contribute to the holistic development of their child.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">My</span> <span class= "bld">son.--</span>The address as of a master to his pupil. This phrase only occurs twice again in Proverbs, excepting in sections (2) and (4).<p><span class= "bld">Law.</span>--Rather, <span class= "ital">teaching. </span>(Comp. <a href="/proverbs/3-1.htm" title="My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:">Proverbs 3:1</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 8-19.</span> - 1. <span class="accented">First admonitory discourse. Warning against enticements to robbery and bloodshed.</span> <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">My son, hear the instruction of thy father</span>. The transition in this verse from what may be regarded as filial obedience towards God to filial obedience towards parents is suggestive of the moral Law. The same admonition, in a slightly altered form, occurs again in ch. 6, "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother" (cf. also <a href="/proverbs/4-1.htm">Proverbs 4:1</a>). <span class="accented">My son</span>; <span class="hebrew">בְּנִבי</span> (<span class="accented">b'ni</span>) from <span class="hebrew">בֵּן</span> (<span class="accented">ben</span>), "a son." The form of address here adopted was that in common use by teachers towards their pupils, and marks that superintending, loving, and fatherly care and interest which the former felt in and towards the latter. It occurs frequently in the introductory section (<a href="/proverbs/2-1.htm">Proverbs 2:1</a>; <a href="/proverbs/3-1.htm">Proverbs 3:1, 21</a>; <a href="/proverbs/4-10.htm">Proverbs 4:10, 20</a>; <a href="/proverbs/5-1.htm">Proverbs 5:1</a>; <a href="/proverbs/6-1.htm">Proverbs 6:1</a>; <a href="/proverbs/7-1.htm">Proverbs 7:1</a>), and reappears again towards the close (<a href="/proverbs/23-15.htm">Proverbs 23:15, 19, 26</a>; <a href="/proverbs/24-13.htm">Proverbs 24:13, 21</a>; <a href="/proverbs/27-11.htm">Proverbs 27:11</a>) in the teacher's address. The mother of Lemuel uses it (<a href="/proverbs/31-2.htm">Proverbs 31:2</a>) in the strictly parental sense. In other passages of the Old Testament the teacher, on the other hand, is represented as a "father" (<a href="/judges/17-10.htm">Judges 17:10</a> <a href="/isaiah/10-12.htm">Isaiah 10:12</a>; <a href="/2_kings/2-21.htm">2 Kings 2:21</a>). We find the same relation assumed in the New Testament, both by St. Paul (<a href="/1_corinthians/4-15.htm">1 Corinthians 4:15</a>; <a href="/philemon/1-10.htm">Philemon 1:10</a>; <a href="/galatians/4-19.htm">Galatians 4:19</a>) and by St. John (<a href="/1_john/2-1.htm">1 John 2:1</a>; <a href="/1_john/5-2.htm">1 John 5:2</a>); but under the economy of the gospel it has a deeper significance than here, as pointing to the "new birth," which, being a later revelation, lies outside the scope of the moral teaching of the Old Testament dispensation. <span class="accented">The instruction</span> (<span class="hebrew">מֶוּסַר</span> <span class="accented">musar</span>); as carrying with it the sense of disciplinary education (cf. LXX., <span class="greek">παιδεία</span>; Vulgate, <span class="accented">disciplina</span>; see also ver. 2), and of the correction with which it may be enforced (cf. <a href="/proverbs/13-24.htm">Proverbs 13:24</a>; <a href="/proverbs/22-15.htm">Proverbs 22:15</a>; <a href="/proverbs/23-13.htm">Proverbs 23:13, 14</a>), the writer attributes appropriately to the father, while the milder <span class="accented">torah</span>, "law," he uses of the mother (Delitzsch). <span class="accented">Father</span>. The nature of the exhortation conveyed in this verse requires that we should understand the terms "father" and "mother" in their natural sense as designating the parents of the persons addressed, though a symbolical meaning has Been attached to them by the rabbis (see Rabbi Salomon, <span class="accented">in loc</span>.), "father" being understood as representing God, and "mother," the people. But the terms are more than merely figurative expressions (Stuart). Those who look upon the Proverbs as the address of Solomon to his son Rehoboam naturally take "father" as standing for the former. Naamah, in this case must be the mother (<a href="/1_kings/14-31.htm">1 Kings 14:31</a>). It is almost unnecessary to state that pious parents are presupposed, and that only that instruction and law can be meant which is not inconsistent with the higher and more perfect Law of God (Gejerus, Wardlaw). <span class="cmt_word">And forsake not the law of thy mother.</span> <span class="accented">Forsake.</span> The radical meaning of <span class="hebrew">הִּטּשׁ</span> (<span class="accented">tittosh</span>) is that of "spreading," then of "scattering" (Aiken), and so the word comes to mean "forsake, reject, or neglect." The LXX. reads <span class="greek">ἀπώσῃ</span>, from <span class="greek">ἀποθέω</span>, <span class="accented">abjicere</span>, "to push away, reject." Cf. <span class="accented">abjicias</span> (Arabic). The Vulgate has <span class="accented">dimittas, i.e.</span> "abandon," and the Syriac, <span class="accented">obliviscaris, i.e.</span> "forget." <span class="accented">The law</span>; <span class="hebrew">תּורַת</span> (<span class="accented">torath</span>), construct case of <span class="hebrew">תּורַה</span> (<span class="accented">torah</span>), from the root <span class="hebrew">יָרָה</span> (<span class="accented">yarah</span>), "to teach," hence here equivalent to "a law" in the sense of that which teaches - a precept (<span class="accented">doctrina</span>, Jun. et Tremell., Piscat., Castal., Versions). With one exception (<a href="/proverbs/8-10.htm">Proverbs 8:10</a>), it is the term which always expresses the instruction given by Wisdom (Delitzsch). The law (<span class="accented">torah</span>) of the mother is that preceptive teaching which she imparts orally to her son, but <span class="accented">torah</span> is also used in a technical sense as <span class="accented">lex</span>, <span class="greek">νόμος δέσμος</span>, that which is laid down and established, a <span class="accented">decretum</span> or <span class="accented">institutum</span>, and designates some distinct provision or ordinance, as the law of sacrifice (<a href="/leviticus/6-7.htm">Leviticus 6:7</a>). In <a href="/joshua/1-8.htm">Joshua 1:8</a> we find it employed to signify the whole body of the Mosaic Law (<span class="accented">sepher hatorah</span>)<span class="accented">. Mother.</span> Not inserted here as a natural expansion of the idea of the figure required by the laws of poetic parallelism (as Zockler), since this weakens the force of the passage. Mothers are mentioned because of their sedulousness in imparting instruction (Bayne). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/1-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Listen,</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁמַ֣ע</span> <span class="translit">(šə·ma‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hear intelligently</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my son,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּ֭נִי</span> <span class="translit">(bə·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to your father’s</span><br /><span class="heb">אָבִ֑יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḇî·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">instruction,</span><br /><span class="heb">מוּסַ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(mū·sar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4148.htm">Strong's 4148: </a> </span><span class="str2">Chastisement, reproof, warning, instruction, restraint</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and do not forsake</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(tiṭ·ṭōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5203.htm">Strong's 5203: </a> </span><span class="str2">To pound, smite, to disperse, to thrust off, down, out, upon</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the teaching</span><br /><span class="heb">תּוֹרַ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(tō·w·raṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8451.htm">Strong's 8451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Direction, instruction, law</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of your mother.</span><br /><span class="heb">אִמֶּֽךָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’im·me·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_517.htm">Strong's 517: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mother, )</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/1-8.htm">Proverbs 1:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/1-8.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 1:8 My son listen to your father's instruction (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/1-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 1:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 1:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/1-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 1:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 1:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>