Proverbs 22:6 Text
King James Version (KJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
World English Bible (WEB)
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
What Proverbs 22:6 Means
This proverb is short, and people often read more certainty into it than the words contain. Train up means to dedicate or begin, a word used elsewhere for opening a house or giving something a first use, so it carries the sense of careful, early shaping. The way he should go can be read as the right path in general, or as a path suited to the child's own makeup, and scholars discuss both. The second half says that in old age the child will not leave it. Proverbs are general observations about how life tends to run, not guarantees, and many faithful parents have grown children who chose differently. The WEB and KJV wording are nearly identical here, so the difference lies in how we interpret the line, not in translation.
Context of Proverbs 22:6
Proverbs is a collection of wisdom sayings, many traditionally linked to Solomon, with other sections added by other writers. This verse sits in a section headed as the proverbs of Solomon, made up of short two-line sayings aimed at young people and those who guide them. Nearby verses talk about wealth, discipline, honest dealing and generosity. The setting is a household in ancient Israel, where parents were the main teachers of work, faith and conduct, long before formal schools existed. To read the whole book, see random verse from Proverbs.
How to Apply Proverbs 22:6
If you raise or mentor children, take this as encouragement to teach steadily, with example as much as words. It is not a verdict on you if a young person later goes another way. Keep the relationship open, pray for them, and remember that your faithful effort matters even when you cannot see its results yet.
Related Verses
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
- Ephesians 6:4 – And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
- Proverbs 1:8 – My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
- 2 Timothy 3:14-15 – But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them ; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Family, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does train up a child in the way he should go mean?
It means guiding a child early and consistently toward wise, godly living. Some read it as a standard path for everyone, others as a path fitted to each child's character. Either way, the emphasis is on patient teaching and example from the start.
Is Proverbs 22:6 a guarantee that children will follow the faith?
Most scholars say no. Proverbs state general patterns, not promises that fit every case. Good teaching often shapes a person for life, but children also make their own choices. The verse offers hope and direction to parents, not a rule that blames them if a child strays.
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