What Does Proverbs 5:1 Mean in the King James?
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
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
Wisdom begins when the ear turns toward discernment, making understanding a posture of reception.
THE MEANING
The verse addresses you as someone who can receive wisdom by giving it your attention. Understanding is discernment, and the ear bends toward it as you listen.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the belief that understanding comes through information alone; here, understanding meets an ear turned toward discernment.
THE ROOT
תְּבוּנָתִי
tevunati
GROWS FROM
בין
To discern, distinguish, or understand.
The word translated “understanding” is tevunah (תְּבוּנָה, discernment), from bin (בין, to discern or understand). Its related form bein (בֵּין, between) brings out the word’s texture: understanding perceives distinctions, the space between one thing and another.
ALSO GROWS
bin: Discern; understand.
בִּין
This verb names the act of distinguishing, showing that understanding involves perception, not simply holding information.
bein: Between; in the space between.
בֵּין
This related form links understanding with perceiving distinctions between things.
הַט
haṭ
GROWS FROM
נטה
To stretch out, incline, or turn aside.
The word translated “bow” is haṭ (הַט, incline), from natah (נטה, stretch out or turn). The same verb describes stretching out a hand or spreading a tent, so the ear is pictured as extending toward understanding, opening itself to receive.
ALSO GROWS
nāṭâ yād: Stretch out a hand.
נָטָה יָד
The same root describes a reaching movement; here the ear reaches toward wisdom.
nāṭâ ʾōhel: Stretch or pitch a tent.
נָטָה אֹהֶל
The root also describes spreading a tent open, echoing the ear’s turn toward what can be received.
THE PATTERN
The ear that turns toward wisdom receives the life and discernment carried by hearing.
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:THE THREAD
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.Both verses use natah (נָטָה, incline or stretch out) for turning the ear toward what is heard. Isaiah makes the fruit of that movement explicit: hearing opens into life, and Proverbs shows the ear’s turn as the threshold of understanding.
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