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Selected Verse: Proverbs 22:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Pr 22:6	Strong Concordance	Train up [02596] a child [05288] in the way [01870] he should go [06310]: and when he is old [02204], he will not depart [05493] from it.
	King James	Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Train--initiate, or early instruct. the way--literally, "his way," that selected for him in which he should go; for early training secures habitual walking in it.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Train--initiate, or early instruct.

the way--literally, "his way," that selected for him in which he should go; for early training secures habitual walking in it.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Train - Initiate, and so, educate. The way he should go - Or, according to the tenor of his way, i. e., the path especially belonging to, especially fitted for, the individual's character. The proverb enjoins the closest possible study of each child's temperament and the adaptation of "his way of life" to that.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
train up a child See (Eph 6:4); (Ti2 3:15).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
6 Give to the child instruction conformably to His way; So he will not, when he becomes old, depart from it. The first instruction is meant which, communicated to the child, should be על־פּי, after the measure (Gen 43:7 = post-bibl. לפי and כּפי) of his way, i.e., not: of his calling, which he must by and by enter upon (Bertheau, Zckler), which דּרכּו of itself cannot mean; also not: of the way which he must keep in during life (Kidduschin 30a); nor: of his individual nature (Elster); but: of the nature of the child as such, for דּרך נער is the child's way, as e.g., derek col-haarets, Gen 19:31, the general custom of the land; derek Mitsrâyim, Isa 10:24, the way (the manner of acting) of the Egyptians. The instruction of youth, the education of youth, ought to be conformed to the nature of youth; the matter of instruction, the manner of instruction, ought to regulate itself according to the stage of life, and its peculiarities; the method ought to be arranged according to the degree of development which the mental and bodily life of the youth has arrived at. The verb חנך is a denominative like עקב, Pro 22:4; it signifies to affect the taste, חך (= חנך), in the Arab. to put date syrup into the mouth of the suckling; so that we may compare with it the saying of Horace, Ep. i. 2, 69: Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem Testa diu. In the post-bibl. Heb. חנּוּך denotes that which in the language of the Church is called catechizatio; חנוך (לנער) ספר is the usual title of the catechisms. It is the fundamental and first requisite of all educational instruction which the proverb formulates, a suitable motto for the lesson-books of pedagogues and catechists. ממּנּה [from it] refers to that training of youth, in conformity with his nature, which becomes a second nature, that which is imprinted, inbred, becomes accustomed. Pro 22:6 is wanting in the lxx; where it exists in MSS of the lxx, it is supplied from Theodotion; the Complut. translates independently from the Heb. text.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

6 Give to the child instruction conformably to His way;

So he will not, when he becomes old, depart from it.

The first instruction is meant which, communicated to the child, should be על־פּי, after the measure (Gen 43:7 = post-bibl. לפי and כּפי) of his way, i.e., not: of his calling, which he must by and by enter upon (Bertheau, Zckler), which דּרכּו of itself cannot mean; also not: of the way which he must keep in during life (Kidduschin 30a); nor: of his individual nature (Elster); but: of the nature of the child as such, for דּרך נער is the child's way, as e.g., derek col-haarets, Gen 19:31, the general custom of the land; derek Mitsrâyim, Isa 10:24, the way (the manner of acting) of the Egyptians. The instruction of youth, the education of youth, ought to be conformed to the nature of youth; the matter of instruction, the manner of instruction, ought to regulate itself according to the stage of life, and its peculiarities; the method ought to be arranged according to the degree of development which the mental and bodily life of the youth has arrived at. The verb חנך is a denominative like עקב, Pro 22:4; it signifies to affect the taste, חך (= חנך), in the Arab. to put date syrup into the mouth of the suckling; so that we may compare with it the saying of Horace, Ep. i. 2, 69: Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem Testa diu. In the post-bibl. Heb. חנּוּך denotes that which in the language of the Church is called catechizatio; חנוך (לנער) ספר is the usual title of the catechisms. It is the fundamental and first requisite of all educational instruction which the proverb formulates, a suitable motto for the lesson-books of pedagogues and catechists. ממּנּה [from it] refers to that training of youth, in conformity with his nature, which becomes a second nature, that which is imprinted, inbred, becomes accustomed. Pro 22:6 is wanting in the lxx; where it exists in MSS of the lxx, it is supplied from Theodotion; the Complut. translates independently from the Heb. text.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Depart - Not easily and ordinarily.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Train up a child in the way he should go - The Hebrew of this clause is curious: חנך לנער על פי דרכו chanoch lannaar al pi darco, "Initiate the child at the opening (the mouth) of his path." When he comes to the opening of the way of life, being able to walk alone, and to choose; stop at this entrance, and begin a series of instructions, how he is to conduct himself in every step he takes. Show him the duties, the dangers, and the blessings of the path; give him directions how to perform the duties, how to escape the dangers, and how to secure the blessings, which all lie before him. Fix these on his mind by daily inculcation, till their impression is become indelible; then lead him to practice by slow and almost imperceptible degrees, till each indelible impression becomes a strongly radicated habit. Beg incessantly the blessing of God on all this teaching and discipline; and then you have obeyed the injunction of the wisest of men. Nor is there any likelihood that such impressions shall ever be effaced, or that such habits shall ever be destroyed. חנך chanac, which we translate train up or initiate, signifies also dedicate; and is often used for the consecrating any thing, house, or person, to the service of God. Dedicate, therefore, in the first instance, your child to God; and nurse, teach, and discipline him as God's child, whom he has intrusted to your care. These things observed, and illustrated by your own conduct, the child (you have God's word for it) will never depart from the path of life. Coverdale translates the passage thus: "Yf thou teachest a childe what waye he shoulde go, he shall not leave it when he is olde." Coverdale's Bible, for generally giving the true sense of a passage, and in elegant language for the time, has no equal in any of the translations which have followed since. Horace's maxim is nearly like that of Solomon: - Fingit equum tenera docilem cervice magister Ire viam, quam monstrat eques; venaticus, ex quo Tempore cervinam pellem latravit in aula, Militat in sylvis catulus. Nunc adbibe puro Pectore verba, puer; nunc te melioribus ofter. Quo semel est imbuta recens, servabit odorem Testa diu. Hor. Ep. lib. i., ep. 2, ver. 64. "The docile colt is form'd with gentle skill To move obedient to his rider's will. In the loud hall the hound is taught to bay The buckskin trail'd, then challenges his prey Through the wild woods. Thus, in your hour of youth From pure instruction quaff the words of truth: The odours of the wine that first shall stain The virgin vessel, it shall long retain." Francis.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Train up a child in the way he should go - The Hebrew of this clause is curious: חנך לנער על פי דרכו chanoch lannaar al pi darco, "Initiate the child at the opening (the mouth) of his path." When he comes to the opening of the way of life, being able to walk alone, and to choose; stop at this entrance, and begin a series of instructions, how he is to conduct himself in every step he takes. Show him the duties, the dangers, and the blessings of the path; give him directions how to perform the duties, how to escape the dangers, and how to secure the blessings, which all lie before him. Fix these on his mind by daily inculcation, till their impression is become indelible; then lead him to practice by slow and almost imperceptible degrees, till each indelible impression becomes a strongly radicated habit. Beg incessantly the blessing of God on all this teaching and discipline; and then you have obeyed the injunction of the wisest of men. Nor is there any likelihood that such impressions shall ever be effaced, or that such habits shall ever be destroyed.

חנך chanac, which we translate train up or initiate, signifies also dedicate; and is often used for the consecrating any thing, house, or person, to the service of God. Dedicate, therefore, in the first instance, your child to God; and nurse, teach, and discipline him as God's child, whom he has intrusted to your care. These things observed, and illustrated by your own conduct, the child (you have God's word for it) will never depart from the path of life. Coverdale translates the passage thus: "Yf thou teachest a childe what waye he shoulde go, he shall not leave it when he is olde." Coverdale's Bible, for generally giving the true sense of a passage, and in elegant language for the time, has no equal in any of the translations which have followed since. Horace's maxim is nearly like that of Solomon: -

Fingit equum tenera docilem cervice magister

Ire viam, quam monstrat eques; venaticus, ex quo

Tempore cervinam pellem latravit in aula,

Militat in sylvis catulus. Nunc adbibe puro

Pectore verba, puer; nunc te melioribus ofter.

Quo semel est imbuta recens, servabit odorem

Testa diu.

Hor. Ep. lib. i., ep. 2, ver. 64.

"The docile colt is form'd with gentle skill

To move obedient to his rider's will.

In the loud hall the hound is taught to bay

The buckskin trail'd, then challenges his prey

Through the wild woods. Thus, in your hour of youth

From pure instruction quaff the words of truth:

The odours of the wine that first shall stain

The virgin vessel, it shall long retain."

Francis.

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¹⁵ And [2532] that [3754] from [575] a child [1025] thou hast known [1492] the holy [2413] scriptures [1121], which [3588] are able [1410] to make [4679] thee [4571] wise [4679] unto [1519] salvation [4991] through [1223] faith [4102] which [3588] is in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424].

⁴ And [2532], ye fathers [3962], provoke [3949] not [3361] your [5216] children [5043] to wrath [3949]: but [235] bring [1625] them [846] up [1625] in [1722] the nurture [3809] and [2532] admonition [3559] of the Lord [2962].

⁶ Train up [02596] a child [05288] in the way [01870] he should go [06310]: and when he is old [02204], he will not depart [05493] from it.

⁴ By [06118] humility [06038] and the fear [03374] of the LORD [03068] are riches [06239], and honour [03519], and life [02416].

²⁴ Therefore thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635], O my people [05971] that dwellest [03427] in Zion [06726], be not afraid [03372] of the Assyrian [0804]: he shall smite [05221] thee with a rod [07626], and shall lift up [05375] his staff [04294] against thee, after the manner [01870] of Egypt [04714].

³¹ And the firstborn [01067] said [0559] unto the younger [06810], Our father [01] is old [02204], and there is not a man [0376] in the earth [0776] to come in [0935] unto us after the manner [01870] of all the earth [0776]:

⁷ And they said [0559], The man [0376] asked [07592] us straitly [07592] of our state, and of our kindred [04138], saying [0559], Is your father [01] yet alive [02416]? have ye [03426] another brother [0251]? and we told [05046] him according [05921] to the tenor [06310] of these words [01697]: could we certainly [03045] know [03045] that he would say [0559], Bring [03381] your brother [0251] down [03381]?