Proverbs 1 · Verse 9

Proverbs 1:9

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Proverbs 1:9, King James Version

Proverbs 1:9 in other translations

BSBFor they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
WEBfor they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
ASVFor they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
YLTFor a graceful wreath are they to thy head, And chains to thy neck.
DARBYfor they shall be a garland of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
BBEFor they will be a crown of grace for your head, and chain-ornaments about your neck.
WebsterFor they shalt be an ornament of grace to thy head, and chains about thy neck.

What does Proverbs 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. On the figures of Pr 1:9, compare Ge 41:42; So 1:10; 4:9.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 An ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains - That is, filial respect and obedience will be as ornamental to thee as crowns, diadems, and golden chains and pearls are to others. Political dignity has been distinguished in many nations by a chain of gold about the neck. Solomon seems here to intimate, if we follow the metaphor, that the surest way of coming to distinguished eminence, in civil matters, is to act according to the principles of true wislom, proceeding from the fear of God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 1:7-9

Fools are persons who have no true wisdom, who follow their own devices, without regard to reason, or reverence for God. Children are reasonable creatures, and when we tell them what they must do, we must tell them why. But they are corrupt and wilful, therefore with the instruction there is need of a law. Let Divine truths and commands be to us most honourable; let us value them, and then they shall be so to us.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 1:7-9 →

Proverbs 1:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤י\׀kiforH3588
לִוְיַ֤תliv.Yat[will be] a wreath ofH3880
חֵ֓ןchenfavorH2580
הֵ֬םhemtheyH1992
לְרֹאשֶׁ֑ךָle.ro.She.khafor head yourH7218
וַ֝עֲנָקִ֗יםva.'a.na.Kimand necklacesH6060
לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶֽיךָ\׃le.gar.ge.ro.Tei.khafor neck yourH1621

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 1:9

  • Proverbs 4:9

    She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

  • Daniel 5:29

    Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

  • Genesis 41:42

    And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

  • Proverbs 6:20-21

    My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

  • Proverbs 3:22

    So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

  • Isaiah 3:19

    The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

  • Ezekiel 16:11

    I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

  • Song of Solomon 1:10

    Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

  • 1 Timothy 2:9-10

    In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

  • Daniel 5:16

    And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

  • Song of Solomon 4:9

    Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

  • 1 Peter 3:3-4

    Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
3:22; 4:9; 6:20,21; 1Ti 2:9,10; 1Pe 3:3,4
an ornament. Heb. an adding.
Ge 41:42; So 1:10; 4:9; Isa 3:19; Eze 16:11; Da 5:7,16,29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 1:8

    My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

  • Proverbs 1:9

    For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

  • Proverbs 1:10

    My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Read all of Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque adorno de gracia serán á tu cabeza, y collares á tu cuello.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
car ce sera une guirlande de grâce à ta tête, et des colliers à ton cou.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Denn sie werden ein anmutiger Kranz sein deinem Haupte und ein Geschmeide deinem Halse. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
ut addatur gratia capiti tuo, et torques collo tuo.