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Proverbs 6:20

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 6:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
Proverbs 6:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood;
18A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.
20My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
21Bind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck.
22When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
← Proverbs 6:19Proverbs 6:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Compare Pro 1:8; Pro 3:3, &c.).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The law - The word of God, which thy parents delivered to thee. Proverbs 6:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“6:20-35 This passage emphasizes the life-threatening risk of sleeping with another man’s wife (see also 1:8, 23; 2:16-22; 5:1-23; 7:1-27).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Pro 1:8, Pro 1:9, Pro 7:1-4, Pro 23:22, Pro 30:11; Deu 21:18, Deu 27:16; Eph 6:1 Proverbs 6:21”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“After these three smaller sections, the teacher of wisdom returns here to the theme of the eighth: Warning against sins of the flesh, whose power and prevalence among men is so immeasurably great, that their terrible consequences cannot sufficiently be held up before them, particularly before youth. 20 Keep, my son, the commandment of thy father, And reject not the instruction of thy mother. 21 Bind them to thy heart evermore, Fasten them about thy neck. The suff. -ēm refers to the good doctrine (cf. Pro 7:3) pointed out by מצוה and תּורה; the masc. stands, as is usual (e.g., Pro 1:16; Pro 5:2), instead of the fem. Regarding the figure, reminding us of the Tefillin and of Amuletes for…”
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Related study paths

Read Proverbs 6 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification