Bible Strands
Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A father addresses his son, positioned between a blessing on parents (v. 25) and a warning against sexual immorality (v. 27).
The words — לֵב (lev, "heart") is the object of the command; תִּצּוֹרְנָה (titsorenah, from צור, "to observe, watch") is what the eyes are to do with the father's ways. The BSB renders the latter as "delight," but the Hebrew root carries the sense of watchful attention rather than emotional pleasure.
The thread — Deuteronomy 6:5 commands wholehearted love for God; Psalms 119:2 and 119:9 pair heart-commitment with keeping a pure way.
Why it lands — It asks the son to hand over his loyalty and fix his attention on the father's teaching, framed as the practical alternative to the sexual danger named in the very next verse.
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
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Cross-references
- Psalms 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.
- Psalms 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
- Deuteronomy 6:5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
- Matthew 10:37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
- Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
- Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
- Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
- 2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.
- Ephesians 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
- Proverbs 4:4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.