6:21
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
21a
Bind them always upon your heart ;
21b
tie them around your neck.
6:21a–b
Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck: These two lines function as a single metaphor. The metaphor compares the parents’ teaching to a pendant that the son should tie securely on a chain around his neck so that it hangs over his heart. A pendant can be worn continually around the neck and over the heart. Similarly, the son should always keep his parents’ commands firmly in his mind/heart in order to obey them.
Similar metaphors are used in 1:9, 3:3 and 3:22, but in 1:9 and 3:22, the point of similarity is quite different.
your heart…your neck: The heart was considered the center of the thoughts, emotions, and will. The figurative meaning of fastening something such as teaching around one’s neck is to keep the teaching in one’s thoughts.
6:21a
always: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as always means “constantly.” For example:
forever (New International Version)
General Comment on 6:21a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines, as several English versions have done. The New Century Version has retained the figure of something tied around the neck:
Keep their words in mind forever as though you had them tied around your neck. (New Century Version)
The Good News Translation changes the image to “locked in your heart,” which to some audiences may better convey the idea of always being with a person. It has:
Keep their words with you always, locked in your heart. (Good News Translation)
The Contemporary English Version has not used the figure of speech but has tried to maintain the emphasis by using positive and negative synonyms:
always keep it in mind and never forget it (Contemporary English Version)
It is suggested that you use figurative language if possible in order not to lose the poetic emphasis.
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