Bible Strands
Proverbs 1:9
For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A father addresses his son in Proverbs 1, immediately following a command to heed parental instruction and preceding a warning against yielding to sinners.
The words — לִוְיַת (livyat) means wreath or garland, and חֵן (chen) denotes favor or grace. עֲנָקִים ('anaqim) and גַרְגֹּרֹת (garqorot) literally denote necklaces and the throat or neck, grounding the metaphor in physical adornment.
The thread — The text places this imagery alongside Proverbs 4:9, which describes wisdom setting a garland and crown on the head, and aligns with Daniel 5:29 and Genesis 41:42, where chains and rings function as markers of honor.
Why it lands — The verse states that parental teaching directly becomes a visible mark of honor on the recipient. It requires the reader to treat instruction as a dignifying possession that enhances rather than restricts daily life.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 4:9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
- Daniel 5:29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
- Genesis 41:42 Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.
- Proverbs 3:22 They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
- Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
- Isaiah 3:19 their pendants, bracelets, and veils;
- Ezekiel 16:11 I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck.
- Song of Solomon 1:10 Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
- Song of Solomon 4:9 You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.
- Daniel 5:7 The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”