Psalms 34 · Verse 11

Psalms 34:11

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Psalms 34:11, King James Version

Psalms 34:11 in other translations

BSBCome, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
WEBCome, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
ASVCome, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.
YLTCome ye, children, hearken to me, The fear of Jehovah I do teach you.
DARBYCome, ye sons, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.
BBECome, children, give attention to me; I will be your teacher in the fear of the Lord.
WebsterCome, ye children, hearken to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

What does Psalms 34:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. children--subjects of instruction (Pr 1:8, 10).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Come, ye children - All ye that are of an humble, teachable spirit. I will teach you the fear of the Lord - I shall introduce the translation and paraphrase from my old Psalter; and the rather because I believe there is a reference to that very improper and unholy method of teaching youth the system of heathen mythology before they are taught one sound lesson of true divinity, till at last their minds are imbued with heathenism, and the vicious conduct of gods, goddesses, and heroes, here very properly called tyrants, becomes the model of their own; and they are as heathenish without as they are heathenish within. Trans. Cummes sones heres me: bred of Lard I sal gou lere. Par - Cummes with trauth and luf: sones, qwam I gette in haly lere: heres me. With eres of hert. I sal lere you, noght the fabyls of poetes; na the storys of tyrauntz; bot the dred of oure Larde, that wyl bryng thou til the felaghschippe of aungels; and thar in is lyfe." I need not paraphrase this paraphrase, as it is plain enough.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 34:11-22
Let young persons set out in life with learning the fear of the Lord, if they desire true comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter. Those will be most happy who begin the soonest to serve so good a Master. All aim to be happy. Surely this must look further than the present world; for man's life on earth consists but of few days, and those full of trouble. What man is he that would see the good of that where all bliss is perfect? Alas! few have this good in their thoughts. That religion promises best which creates watchfulness over the heart and over the tongue. It is not enough not to do hurt, we must study to be useful, and to live to some purpose; we must seek peace and pursue it; be willing to deny ourselves a great deal for peace' sake. It is the constant practice of real believers, when in distress, to cry unto God, and it is their constant comfort that he hears them. The righteous are humbled for sin, and are low in their own eyes. Nothing is more needful to true godliness than a contrite heart, broken off from every self-confidence. In this soil every grace will flourish, and nothing can encourage such a one but the free, rich grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The righteous are taken under the special protection of the Lord, yet they have their share of crosses in this world, and there are those that hate them. Both from the mercy of Heaven, and the malice of hell, the afflictions of the righteous must be many. But whatever troubles befal them, shall not hurt their souls, for God keeps them from sinning in troubles. No man is desolate, but he whom God has forsaken.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 34:11 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.

לְֽכוּ\־le.khu-comeH1980
בָ֭נִיםVa.nimO childrenH1121
שִׁמְעוּ\־shim.'u-listenH8085
לִ֑יLito me
יִֽרְאַ֥תyir.'At[the] fear ofH3374
יְ֝הוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם\׃'a.la.med.KhemI will teach youH3925

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

Cross references for Psalms 34:11

  • Proverbs 1:7

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

  • Psalms 111:10

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

  • Proverbs 2:1-9

    My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 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; …

  • Psalms 32:8

    I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

  • Isaiah 28:9

    Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

  • Psalms 66:16

    Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

  • Proverbs 8:17

    I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

  • Matthew 18:2-4

    And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

  • Proverbs 4:1

    Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

  • Proverbs 7:24

    Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

  • Proverbs 8:32

    Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

  • Proverbs 22:6

    Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Come.
Pr 4:1; 7:24; 8:17,32; 22:6; Ec 11:9,10; 12:1; Isa 28:9; Mt 18:2-4
Mr 10:14-16; Joh 13:33; 2Ti 3:15
I will.
32:8; 111:10; Pr 1:7; 2:1-9

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

Context

  • Psalms 34:10

    The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

  • Psalms 34:11

    Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

  • Psalms 34:12

    What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

Read all of Psalms 34

Psalms 34:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Venid, hijos, oidme; el temor de Jehová os enseñaré.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les lionceaux souffrent disette, et ont faim; mais ceux qui cherchent l’ Éternel ne manquent d’aucun bien.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Kommet, ihr Söhne, höret mir zu: Die Furcht Jehovas will ich euch lehren.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Surgentes testes iniqui, quæ ignorabam interrogabant me.