Proverbs 22 · Verse 17

Proverbs 22:17

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

Proverbs 22:17, King James Version

Proverbs 22:17 in other translations

BSB	Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—
WEB	Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
ASV	Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
YLT	Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
DARBY	Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
BBE	Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
Webster	Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.

What does Proverbs 22:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

17. Here begins another division of the book, marked by those encouragements to the pursuit of wisdom, which are found in the earlier chapters. It will be observed that at Pr 22:22-24:12, the proverbs are generally expressed in two verses instead of one (see Introduction).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 17 Bow down thine ear - From this to the end of Pro 22:21 are contained, not proverbs, but directions how to profit by that which wisdom has already delivered; the nature of the instruction, and the end for which it was given. I shall give a paraphrase of this very important passage: - I. Solomon addresses his pupils on the use of his past teachings. See on Pro 22:6 (note). 1. The wise man speaks; and all his words, not merely his sentiments, are to be carefully heard. 2. He speaks knowledge - gives doctrines true in themselves, and confirmed by observation and experience. 3. These are to be heard with humility and deep attention: "Bow down thine ear." 4. They must not only be heard, but meditated and pondered: "Apply thine heart to my knowledge."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 22:17-21

To these words, to this knowledge, the ear must be bowed down, and the heart applied by faith and love. To live a life of delight in God and dependence on him, is the foundation of all practical religion. The way to know the certainty of the word of truth, is to make conscience of our duty.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 22:17 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.

הַ֥טhatinclineH5186

אָזְנְךָ֗'a.ze.ne.Khaear yourH241

וּ֭שְׁמַעU.she.ma'and hearH8085

דִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.Rei[the] words ofH1697

חֲכָמִ֑יםcha.kha.Mimwise [people]H2450

וְ֝לִבְּךָ֗ve.li.be.khaand heart yourH3820

תָּשִׁ֥יתta.Shityou will setH7896

לְדַעְתִּֽי\׃le.da'.Tito knowledge myH1847

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

Cross references for Proverbs 22:17

Proverbs 23:12
Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
Psalms 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 7:25
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
Proverbs 3:1
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Proverbs 2:2-5
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Proverbs 1:3
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Ecclesiastes 8:16
When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)
Ecclesiastes 8:9
All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Proverbs 8:33-34
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Proverbs 5:1-2
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Bow.
2:2-5; 5:1,2
and hear.
1:3; 3:1; 4:4-8; 8:33,34; Isa 55:3; Mt 17:5
apply.
23:12; Ps 90:12; Ec 7:25; 8:9,16

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

Context

Proverbs 22:16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Proverbs 22:17
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Proverbs 22:18
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

Read all of Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:17 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Inclina tu oído, y oye las palabras de los sabios, y pon tu corazón á mi sabiduría:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Incline ton oreille et écoute les paroles des sages, et applique ton cœur à ma science;
German Elberfelder 1871	Neige dein Ohr und höre die Worte der Weisen, und richte dein Herz auf mein Wissen!
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Inclina aurem tuam, et audi verba sapientium: appone autem cor ad doctrinam meam,