Bible Strands
Proverbs 4:10
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses a son within a structured instructional sequence that follows the promise of a garland of grace and a crown of beauty. The moment captures a direct transfer of parental teaching before the subsequent promise of guidance on straight paths.
The words — שְׁמַע (shema) means "listen" and קַח (qach) means "receive," framing the instruction as an active reception rather than passive hearing. These terms establish the required posture for the promised increase in years of life.
The thread — The theme of receiving instruction for added days appears in Proverbs 3:2, which notes that keeping such commandments will add length to days and years. This pattern echoes Deuteronomy 6:2, where keeping God's commands ensures fear of the Lord across generations of life.
Why it lands — The text demands active reception of the given instruction as the direct condition for a prolonged life. It requires the reader to treat the teaching as a practical tool for longevity rather than a mere suggestion.
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
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
Cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.
- Proverbs 3:2 for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
- Deuteronomy 6:2 so that you and your children and grandchildren may fear the LORD your God all the days of your lives by keeping all His statutes and commandments that I give you, and so that your days may be prolonged.
- Jeremiah 9:20 Now, O women, hear the word of the LORD. Open your ears to the word of His mouth. Teach your daughters to wail, and one another to lament.
- Proverbs 3:16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
- Proverbs 8:10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
- John 3:32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
- 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
- Job 22:22 Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
- Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,