Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
English Standard Version (ESV)
While we often think of fathers as the primary instructors, this verse elevates the mother's "law" or teaching to equal importance, suggesting a partnership in guiding children and highlighting the unique, often constant, influence mothers have within the home. This isn't just a suggestion to listen to Mom; it's a command not to abandon the foundational teachings she provides.
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks the beginning of direct instruction within the book of Proverbs, shifting from a general statement about wisdom to a personal appeal. The speaker, adopting the role of a wise father or teacher, addresses a young listener, urging them to heed the guidance of both parents. This foundation in familial instruction is presented as crucial before delving into the deeper warnings against associating with wicked companions that follow in the subsequent verses.
Why does Proverbs mention both father and mother? Discover the unique roles they play in shaping our lives.
The verse calls on us to "hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother." This isn't just about obedience; it highlights the distinct contributions parents make to our upbringing.
Father's Instruction
The father's role often involves guidance for navigating the world, practical advice, and perhaps a more direct, disciplinary approach to teaching. This instruction is about how to live rightly and gain a livelihood.
Mother's Law
The mother's "law" or teaching often emphasizes foundational principles, nurturing guidance, and the instilling of moral character from a young age. It's the deep-seated precepts that shape our inner lives.
Both are crucial, and neglecting either leaves us incomplete. The proverb assumes these parents are God-fearing, offering instruction aligned with divine wisdom.
The way a father speaks to his son in this verse mirrors a deeper kind of relationship. What is it?
The repeated phrase "My son" in Proverbs signifies more than just a biological relationship. It establishes a teacher-student dynamic.
Paternal Authority & Affection
When a teacher or elder in ancient Israel addressed someone as "son," it conveyed authority, care, and a deep personal investment in the student's well-being. This was especially true for parents, who were the primary educators.
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A Foundation for Wisdom
This intimate address is designed to make the recipient more receptive to the counsel being given. It frames the instruction not as a cold command, but as loving guidance aimed at producing a wise and honorable life.
Understand the original words
ben · Hebrew Noun
A term used by teachers in wisdom literature to address pupils, indicating a relationship of mentorship, familial responsibility, and the transmission of values across generations.
This passage emphasizes the constant and intentional teaching of God's commands within the family, mirroring the Proverbs' focus on parental instruction being integral to a child's life.
Ephesians 6:1-3Paul directly quotes the commandment to honor parents, highlighting the divine authority and promise attached to obeying and respecting parental guidance, which aligns with the Proverbs' call to heed fatherly instruction and motherly teaching.
Proverbs 6:20-22These verses further elaborate on the importance of parental instruction, describing the 'commandments' of a father and the 'teachings' of a mother as guiding principles that protect and lead the righteous.
1 Corinthians 4:15Paul refers to himself as a spiritual father in Christ, showing that the concept of parental instruction and guidance extends beyond the biological family to spiritual leaders who nurture believers.
clarkeProverbs 1:8: "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:"
My son, hear - Father was the title of preceptor, and son, that of disciple or scholar, among the Jews. But here the reference appears to be to the children of a family; the father and the mother have the principal charge, in the first instance, of their children's instruction. It is supposed that these parents have, themselves, the fear of the Lord, and that they are capable of giving the best co…
bensonProverbs 1:8: "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:"
Proverbs 1:8-9 . My son, &c. — He speaks to his scholars with paternal authority and affection, to render them more attentive and obedient. Teachers among the Hebrews were commonly called fathers, and their scholars their sons. Hear the instruction of thy father — His good and wholesome counsels; and forsake not the law of thy mother — Those pious instructions which thy mother instilled into thee…
While we often think of fathers as the primary instructors, this verse elevates the mother's "law" or teaching to equal importance, suggesting a partnership in guiding children and highlighting the unique, often constant, influence mothers have within the home. This isn't just a suggestion to listen to Mom; it's a command not to abandon the foundational teachings she provides.
This verse marks the beginning of direct instruction within the book of Proverbs, shifting from a general statement about wisdom to a personal appeal. The speaker, adopting the role of a wise father or teacher, addresses a young listener, urging them to heed the guidance of both parents. This foundation in familial instruction is presented as crucial before delving into the deeper warnings against associating with wicked companions that follow in the subsequent verses.
This verse marks the beginning of direct instruction within the book of Proverbs, shifting from a general statement about wisdom to a personal appeal. The speaker, adopting the role of a wise father or teacher, addresses a young listener, urging them to heed the guidance of both parents. This foundation in familial instruction is presented as crucial before delving into the deeper warnings against associating with wicked companions that follow in the subsequent verses.
"Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching," — While we often think of fathers as the primary instructors, this verse elevates the mother's "law" or teaching to equal importance, suggesting a partnership in guiding children and highlighting the u…
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Last reviewed October 2026