Proverbs 22:17
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
Webster's Revision
Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
World English Bible
Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Definitions for Proverbs 22:17
Clarke's Proverbs 22:17 Bible Commentary
Bow down thine ear - From this to the end of Proverbs 22:21 are contained, not proverbs, but directions how to profit by that which wisdom has already delivered; the nature of the instruction, and the end for which it was given.
I shall give a paraphrase of this very important passage: -
I. Solomon addresses his pupils on the use of his past teachings. See on Proverbs 22:6 (note).
1. The wise man speaks; and all his words, not merely his sentiments, are to be carefully heard.
2. He speaks knowledge - gives doctrines true in themselves, and confirmed by observation and experience.
3. These are to be heard with humility and deep attention: "Bow down thine ear."
4. They must not only be heard, but meditated and pondered: "Apply thine heart to my knowledge."
Barnes's Proverbs 22:17 Bible Commentary
This is the commencement of a new and entirely distinct section, opening, after the fashion of Proverbs 3:1, Proverbs 3:21; Proverbs 4:1; Proverbs 7:1; with a general exhortation Proverbs 22:17-21 and passing on to special precepts. The "words of the wise" may be a title to the section: compare Proverbs 24:23. The general characteristics of this section appear to be
(1) a less close attention to the laws of parallelism, and
(2) a tendency to longer and more complicated sentences. Compare the Introduction to Proverbs.
Wesley's Proverbs 22:17 Bible Commentary
22:17 My knowledge - The knowledge of God, which I am here delivering.