What Does Proverbs 17:6 Mean in the King James?
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Honor moves both ways: descendants crown the elders, and fathers become their children’s adornment.
THE MEANING
The verse presents family honor as reciprocal: descendants become the crown of elders, while fathers become the glory their children carry. Each generation gives the other something worth honoring.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that honor flows only from parents to children: the generations that follow are themselves the elders’ crown.
THE ROOT
עֲטֶרֶת
ʿăṭeret
GROWS FROM
עטר
ʿ-ṭ-r
To surround, encircle, or crown.
The crown is pictured as something that encircles: the descendants themselves surround the elders as their living adornment. The verse makes the generations that follow the crown, rather than merely the heirs, of those who came before.
ALSO GROWS
ʿāṭar: To crown or encircle.
עָטַר
The verb makes the image active: the grandchildren crown the elders by surrounding their later years as living continuation.
ʿăṭārāh: A crown or diadem.
עֲטָרָה
This noun carries the same image of honor worn around the head, making the descendants a visible mark of honor to the elders.
תִּפְאֶרֶת
tiphʾeret
GROWS FROM
פאר
p-ʾ-r
To beautify, adorn, or glorify.
The verse pairs crowning with adornment: the fathers are not only the children’s ancestors, but their beauty and honor. The root makes “glory” concrete as something that adorns.
ALSO GROWS
paʾar: To adorn, beautify, or glorify.
פָּאַר
This verb shows glory as an act of making beautiful; the fathers are named as the children’s adornment.
peʾer: Adornment, beauty, or a headdress.
פְּאֵר
This branch gives the image a tangible form: glory is like an ornament worn, and the verse places the fathers in that role for their children.
THE PATTERN
The fruit of one generation becomes the honor and joy of another.
And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.THE THREAD
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.This verse joins the same Hebrew words for “crown” and “glory” found in Proverbs 17:6. Here, old age is a crown of glory; there, grandchildren crown the elders, while fathers are their children’s adornment.
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