What Does Proverbs 7:24 Mean in the King James?
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
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
The verse pairs hearing with sustained attention, showing that listening is a movement from receiving a voice to staying with its words.
THE MEANING
The voice addresses you now: hear and respond, then hold your attention on the words being spoken. Listening here is active reception, not sound merely passing through.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the assumption that hearing is only sound reaching the ear: the verse joins hearing to deliberate attention.
THE ROOT
שִׁמְעוּ
shim'u
GROWS FROM
שמע
To hear, listen, and heed; when response is implied, to hear and respond.
“Hearken” in this verse is shim'u. The root שמע holds hearing and heeding together, so the first command already leans toward response. Paired with the next verb, it begins a movement from receiving the voice to attending to what it says.
ALSO GROWS
shomeaʿ: One who hears; a listener.
שֹׁמֵעַ
This branch names the person receiving the voice, making the command a call to active listening.
shemuʿah: A report or tidings; what is heard.
שְׁמוּעָה
The same root can name a message received by hearing, linking the listener to the words carried by the voice.
הַקְשִׁיבוּ
haqshivu
GROWS FROM
קשב
To listen attentively, give ear, or pay heed.
“Attend” in this verse is haqshivu. The second verb gathers attention toward the words. Beside שמע, it shows listening as both receiving the voice and staying with its meaning.
ALSO GROWS
qashav: To listen attentively or give ear.
קָשַׁב
This verb carries the focused attention called for in the verse.
maqshiv: One who listens attentively.
מַקְשִׁיב
This form describes the attentive listener toward whom the command points.
THE PATTERN
Living instruction calls for hearing that receives the message and attention that stays with it.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: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
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.Proverbs 4:1 repeats the same Hebrew commands for “hear” and “attend,” linking this appeal to receiving instruction. It makes the paired commands a movement from hearing into understanding.
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