Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights a beautiful reciprocity across generations: the joy of grandchildren is the elder's honor, while the legacy of wise parents is the child's pride. It's not just about having family, but about the virtue passed down, making each generation a blessing and a source of glory to the one before and after.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb sits within a collection of wisdom that emphasizes practical, everyday truths about living well. It's part of a broader theme in Proverbs that celebrates strong family bonds and the blessings that flow from them, contrasting the honor of virtuous generations with the shame brought by foolish or wicked ones. The verse speaks to the reciprocal honor and joy between different generations within a family, highlighting the beauty of continuity and legacy.
Ever wonder what makes an older person truly shine? It's not just wisdom, but a legacy flourishing before their eyes.
The Crown of the Aged
The verse calls grandchildren "the crown of the aged." Imagine an elder, looking out at their family tree, seeing not just their own children, but their children's children growing up. This is more than just a source of comfort; it's a sign of God's blessing and the continuation of a godly heritage. It speaks to the deep joy and honor that comes from seeing the fruit of one's life passed down through generations, especially when those descendants are walking in wisdom and righteousness. This is the true glory of old age – a flourishing lineage.
What makes a child truly proud? It's not just about their own achievements, but about the quality of the roots from which they've grown.
The Glory of Descendants
The second half of the verse flips the perspective: "the glory of children is their fathers." This isn't about fathers being proud of their children, but about children finding their honor in their fathers – specifically, fathers who are wise and godly. Having such parents is a source of pride and a standard to live up to. It means their lineage is one they can boast in, not out of arrogance, but out of gratitude for the heritage of faith and wisdom passed down. It’s a powerful reminder that character and godliness are a profound inheritance.
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Understand the original words
bānîm bānîm · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting the descendants of one's children, often symbolizing the legacy, heritage, and blessing passed down through generations. In Hebrew thought, they represent the continuity of the family line and the strength of the elder's house.
ʿăṭeret · Hebrew Noun
A metaphorical reference to that which adorns, brings honor, or serves as a mark of dignity and worth. It denotes the crowning achievement or the visible manifestation of success and honor.
tip̄ʾeret · Hebrew Noun
A term signifying honor, splendor, reputation, or moral weight. It is often used to describe the external manifestation of inner character or the status of an individual in the eyes of the community.
This psalm paints a beautiful picture of God's blessing on a family, directly echoing the idea that seeing 'children's children' brings joy and fulfillment to the older generation.
1 Thessalonians 2:19The Apostle Paul refers to his converts as his 'hope, or joy, or crown of boasting,' drawing a parallel to how spiritual offspring bring glory and deep satisfaction to their spiritual fathers.
Matthew 3:9The people claimed Abraham as their father, showing how ancestry and a good lineage were a source of pride and glory for descendants, reflecting the second part of Proverbs 17:6.
Ruth 4:14-17This passage highlights the continuation of a family line, with Naomi rejoicing in a grandson named Obed, who is explicitly called a restorer of life and a support in old age, a tangible fulfillment of Proverbs 17:6.
bensonProverbs 17:6: "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."
Proverbs 17:6 . Children’s children are the crown of old men — It is an honour to parents, when they are old, to leave children, and children’s children growing up, that tread in the steps of their virtues, and are likely to maintain and advance the reputation of their families, and to serve their generation according to the will of God; and the glory of children are their fathers — Namel…
ellicottProverbs 17:6: "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."
(6) Children’s children are the crown of old men. —Comp. Psalms 127, 128. The glory of children are their fathers.—And, as such, to be honoured by them. For the blessing which parents bring to children, comp. 1Kings 11:13; 1Kings 15:4; Jeremiah 33:21.
This verse highlights a beautiful reciprocity across generations: the joy of grandchildren is the elder's honor, while the legacy of wise parents is the child's pride. It's not just about having family, but about the virtue passed down, making each generation a blessing and a source of glory to the one before and after.
This proverb sits within a collection of wisdom that emphasizes practical, everyday truths about living well. It's part of a broader theme in Proverbs that celebrates strong family bonds and the blessings that flow from them, contrasting the honor of virtuous generations with the shame brought by foolish or wicked ones. The verse speaks to the reciprocal honor and joy between different generations within a family, highlighting the beauty of continuity and legacy.
This proverb sits within a collection of wisdom that emphasizes practical, everyday truths about living well. It's part of a broader theme in Proverbs that celebrates strong family bonds and the blessings that flow from them, contrasting the honor of virtuous generations with the shame brought by foolish or wicked ones. The verse speaks to the reciprocal honor and joy between different generations within a family, highlighting the beauty of continuity and legacy.
"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers." — This verse highlights a beautiful reciprocity across generations: the joy of grandchildren is the elder's honor, while the legacy of wise parents is the child's pride. It's not just about having…
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Last reviewed October 2026