The big picture
Proverbs 4 opens in verse 1 with “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.”, and closes in verse 27 with “Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Repeated or prominent terms include keep, life, wisdom, heart, path. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 27Proverbs 4:1-7
1–7: Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know…
Proverbs 4:1–7 opens with “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” and reaches “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A father passing wisdom to the next generation and two paths separating into light and darkness, with particular weight carried by understanding, wisdom, forsake.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 4:1-7
King James Version1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:8-14
8–14: Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour…
Proverbs 4:8–14 opens with “Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace…” and reaches “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A father passing wisdom to the next generation and two paths separating into light and darkness, with particular weight carried by life, crown, deliver.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Proverbs 4:8-14
King James Version8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Proverbs 4:15-21
15–21: Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Proverbs 4:15–21 opens with “Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” and reaches “Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A father passing wisdom to the next generation and two paths separating into light and darkness, with particular weight carried by sleep, attend, Avoid.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” Naming Avoid keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 4:15-21
King James Version15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Proverbs 4:22-27
22–27: For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their…
Proverbs 4:22–27 opens with “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” and reaches “Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A father passing wisdom to the next generation and two paths separating into light and darkness, with particular weight carried by life, look, right.
Proverbs 4:22-27
King James Version22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 4:1 begins with “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 4:18 forms a natural hinge: “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
The final note
Proverbs 4:27 leaves the reader with “Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words keep, life, wisdom, heart, path, right help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What opportunity exists before the murder?
Cain receives a warning and a call to resist sin in verse 7. Anger is not treated as an irresistible excuse.
What do the two speeches about vengeance reveal?
God limits retaliation against Cain; Lamech celebrates escalation.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.