Translation commentary on Proverbs 23:22

“Hearken to your father who begot you”: “Hearken” is the common word for “hear” or “listen.” In this context it means “pay attention” (Contemporary English Version). In some languages, including English, “who begot you” repeats an element of meaning that is already included in the meaning of “father”; therefore it is not really necessary in translation. So Contemporary English Version “Pay attention to your father” is a good model to follow. For people in some cultures, however, the fact that a father gave life to his child is a powerful reason for the child to pay attention and obey; and this line expresses that thought. So a translation may say, for example, “Your father brought you to life, and so you must listen to his words.” For translators who take this division of Proverbs as the teaching given by a father to his son (see 22.17-21), this line may have to be expressed in the first person; for example, “My son, I am your father. You must listen to me because I gave you life.”

“And do not despise your mother when she is old”: Since this line is parallel to the previous line, we might expect it to be something like the second line of 1.8, “and reject not your mother’s teaching.” But for people in many cultures the meaning here fits perfectly well with the first line, because after being obedient to parents the next most important duty of children is to care for parents in their old age. Contemporary English Version expresses this more clearly in English with “and don’t neglect your mother when she grows old.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 23:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 23:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “Listen to your father because he bore you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Listen to your father who has begotten you.
    and do not scorn your mother
    who has become an old woman.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (sing.)] listen to your (sing.) parents who gave-birth to you and do- not -make- them -bad when they are already old.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Listen-to (sing.) the advice of your (sing.) father to-whom- you (sing.) -owe your (sing.) life and do not mock/belittle your (sing.) mother when she already becomes-an-old-woman.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 23:22

Paragraph 23:22–25 Saying 16

In this saying, the father advises his son to pay attention to his father and mother (23:22). He should learn from them the truth that will make him wise (23:23). This will make them very happy (23:24–25).

The father’s role in giving birth to the son is mentioned twice. The mother’s role is mentioned once. This threefold mention strongly reminds the son that he owes his very life to both parents, so he should listen to them with respect.

23:22

In this verse, the underlined parallel commands and the parts in italics apply equally to both parents. The parts in italics imply that the son should continue to follow his parents’ wise advice throughout his life.

22a
Listen to your father who gave you life,

22b and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Compare the similar commands in 1:8 and 6:20. In both these verses, the commands specify the parents’ instruction, teaching, etc. Here the son is simply told to listen to the father and mother. What he will learn from them is made explicit in 23:23.

23:22a

Listen to your father: In Hebrew, the command Listen means “pay attention.” It implies that the son should heed what the father says.

The speaker himself is the father who is referred to here. In some languages, it is not natural for a speaker to refer to himself in third person as your father. In such languages, it may be necessary to make explicit that the father is the one who is speaking. For example:

Listen to me. I am your father

who gave you life: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as who gave you life is literally “he begot you.” In Hebrew, the same verb is used in 23:25b to describe the mother’s role in giving birth to the son. Some languages may have a specific word that refers to the father’s role. For example:

begot (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
sired

Consider whether a term like this is appropriate in this context. Several English versions have used the same phrase as the Berean Standard Bible. Some other ways to translate this idea are:

without him you would not exist (Good News Translation)
-or-
since you are his son (God’s Word)

23:22b

and do not despise your mother when she is old: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as despise means to show contempt, belittle, or consider of little value. This word could refer to a scornful opinion about someone else. But here, it is parallel with 23:22a. So it probably implies that the son should not show contempt for his mother as she gets older. He should not ignore or reject what she taught him.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and don’t neglect your mother when she grows old (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and don’t scorn your mother when she is old ⌊by ignoring what she tells you⌋

General Comment on 23:22a–b

The parallel parts in this verse refer to both the father and mother. In some languages, combining or reordering the parallel lines may make the meaning clearer. See 23:22a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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