Proverbs 6 · Verse 20

Proverbs 6:20

My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Proverbs 6:20, King James Version

Proverbs 6:20 in other translations

BSBMy son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
WEBMy son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
ASVMy son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
YLTKeep, my son, the command of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother.
DARBYMy son, observe thy father's commandment, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
BBEMy son, keep the rule of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother:
WebsterMy son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

What does Proverbs 6:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 6:20-23
20-23. (Compare Pr 1:8; 3:3, &c.).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Keep thy father's commandment - See on Pro 1:8 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 6:20-35
The word of God has something to say to us upon all occasions. Let not faithful reproofs ever make us uneasy. When we consider how much this sin abounds, how heinous adultery is in its own nature, of what evil consequence it is, and how certainly it destroys the spiritual life in the soul, we shall not wonder that the cautions against it are so often repeated. Let us notice the subjects of this chapter. Let us remember Him who willingly became our Surety, when we were strangers and enemies. And shall Christians, who have such prospects, motives, and examples, be slothful and careless? Shall we neglect what is pleasing to God, and what he will graciously reward? May we closely watch every sense by which poison can enter our minds or affections.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 6:20 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.

נְצֹ֣רne.TzorkeepH5341
בְּ֭נִיBe.niO son myH1121
מִצְוַ֣תmitz.Vat[the] commandment ofH4687
אָבִ֑יךָ'a.Vi.khafather yourH1
וְאַל\־ve.'al-and may notH408
תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁti.Toshyou forsakeH5203
תּוֹרַ֥תto.Rat[the] instruction ofH8451
אִמֶּֽךָ\׃'i.Me.khamother yourH517

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

Cross references for Proverbs 6:20

  • Ephesians 6:1

    Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

  • Deuteronomy 27:16

    Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

  • Proverbs 7:1-4

    My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

  • Proverbs 1:8-9

    My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

  • Proverbs 23:22

    Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

  • Proverbs 30:11

    There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

  • Deuteronomy 21:18

    If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:8,9; 7:1-4; 23:22; 30:11; De 21:18; 27:16; Eph 6:1

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

Context

  • Proverbs 6:19

    A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

  • Proverbs 6:20

    My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

  • Proverbs 6:21

    Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

Read all of Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Guarda, hijo mío, el mandamiento de tu padre, y no dejes la enseñanza de tu madre:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mon fils, garde le commandement de ton père, et n’abandonne pas l’enseignement de ta mère;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Mein Sohn, bewahre das Gebot deines Vaters, und verlaß nicht die Belehrung deiner Mutter;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Conserva, fili mi, præcepta patris tui, et ne dimittas legem matris tuæ.