Proverbs 3 · Verse 1

Proverbs 3:1

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Proverbs 3:1, King James Version

Proverbs 3:1 in other translations

BSBMy son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
WEBMy son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
ASVMy son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:
YLTMy son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,
DARBYMy son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
BBEMy son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
WebsterMy son, forget not my law; but let thy heart keep my commandments;

What does Proverbs 3:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Pr 3:1-35. The study of truth commended. God must be feared, honored, and trusted, and filial submission, under chastisement, exhibited. The excellence of wisdom urged and illustrated by its place in the divine counsels. Piety enforced by a contrast of the destiny of the righteous and the wicked.

1. law [and] commandments--all divine instructions (see on Psa 119:1 and Psa 119:4). let thine heart keep--or sincerely observe (Pr 4:13; 5:2).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

An exhortation to obedience, Pro 3:1-4; trust in God's providence, Pro 3:5, Pro 3:6; to humility, Pro 3:7, Pro 3:8; to charity, Pro 3:9, Pro 3:10; to submission to God's chastening, Pro 3:11, Pro 3:12. The profitableness of wisdom in all the concerns of life, Pro 3:13-26. No act of duty should be deferred beyond the time in which it should be done, Pro 3:27, Pro 3:28. Brotherly love and forbearance should he exercised, Pro 3:29, Pro 3:30. We should not envy the wicked, Pro 3:31, Pro 3:32. The curse of God is in the house of the wicked; but the humble and wise shall prosper, Pro 3:33-35.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 3:1-6
In the way of believing obedience to God's commandments health and peace may commonly be enjoyed; and though our days may not be long upon earth, we shall live for ever in heaven. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; God's mercy in promising, and his truth in performing: live up to them, keep up thine interest in them, and take the comfort of them. We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to do what is best. Those who know themselves, find their own understandings a broken reed, which, if they lean upon, will fail. Do not design any thing but what is lawful, and beg God to direct thee in every case, though it may seem quite plain. In all our ways that prove pleasant, in which we gain our point, we must acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that prove uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must acknowledge him with submission. It is promised, He shall direct thy paths; so that thy way shall be safe and good, and happy at last.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 3:1 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.

בְּ֭נִיBe.niO son myH1121
תּוֹרָתִ֣יto.ra.Tiinstruction myH8451
אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּשְׁכָּ֑חtish.Kachyou forgetH7911
וּ֝מִצְוֹתַ֗יu.mitz.vo.Taiand commandments myH4687
יִצֹּ֥רyi.Tzorlet it keepH5341
לִבֶּֽךָ\׃li.Be.khaheart yourH3820

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

Cross references for Proverbs 3:1

  • John 14:21-24

    He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

  • Proverbs 4:5

    Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

  • Deuteronomy 6:6-9

    And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

  • Psalms 119:16

    I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

  • Proverbs 1:8

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

  • Psalms 119:93

    I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

  • Psalms 119:34

    Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

  • Jeremiah 31:33

    But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  • Deuteronomy 8:1

    All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.

  • Psalms 119:11

    Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

  • Psalms 119:47-48

    And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

  • Psalms 119:153

    ר RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Sundry exhortations.
13 The gain of wisdom.
27 Exhortation to beneficence, etc.
33 The different state of the wicked and upright.

forget.
1:8; 4:5; 31:5; De 4:23; Ps 119:93,153,176; Ho 4:6
let.
De 4:9; 6:6-9; 8:1; 30:16-20; Ps 119:11,16,34,47,48; Isa 51:17
Jer 31:33; Joh 14:21-24

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

Context

  • Proverbs 3:1

    My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

  • Proverbs 3:2

    For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Read all of Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		HIJO mío, no te olvides de mi ley; y tu corazón guarde mis mandamientos:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mon fils, n’oublie pas mon enseignement, et que ton cœur garde mes commandements;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Mein Sohn, vergiß nicht meine Belehrung, und dein Herz bewahre meine Gebote.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fili mi, ne obliviscaris legis meæ, et præcepta mea cor tuum custodiat: