Proverbs 6:21 kjv
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
Proverbs 6:21 nkjv
Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck.
Proverbs 6:21 niv
Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.
Proverbs 6:21 esv
Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.
Proverbs 6:21 nlt
Keep their words always in your heart.
Tie them around your neck.
Proverbs 6 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:6 | These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. | Internalize God's commands into the core of one's being. |
| Deut 6:8 | You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. | Emphasizes visible and constant remembrance and adherence to God's word. |
| Deut 11:18 | You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul... | Deeper internalization of God's teachings into one's innermost being. |
| Ps 1:2 | ...but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. | Continuous engagement and reflection on God's instruction. |
| Ps 119:11 | I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. | Protecting oneself from sin by deeply knowing and retaining God's word. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's word provides guidance and direction for daily life. |
| Prov 3:3 | Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Direct parallel, linking core virtues with heart (internal) and neck (outward display). |
| Prov 3:23-24 | Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble... | Wisdom provides security and prevents falling into error or harm. |
| Prov 4:6 | Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will keep you. | Wisdom acts as a protector when it is embraced and cherished. |
| Prov 4:13 | Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. | Instruction is vital for life and must be held onto firmly. |
| Prov 6:23 | For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light... | Instruction and commandment illuminate and guide one's path. |
| Prov 7:3 | Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Reiteration of deep internal and practical outward adherence to instruction. |
| Josh 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night... | Continuous meditation and articulation of God's law. |
| Jer 31:33 | But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. | The New Covenant promises a deep, intrinsic knowledge and desire for God's law. |
| Rom 2:15 | They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness... | The moral law is inherently known by humanity, signifying a form of internal inscription. |
| Heb 8:10 | For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts... | Fulfilment of the New Covenant promise: laws instilled internally, influencing thought and will. |
| Matt 4:4 | ...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. | Emphasizes the life-giving necessity and sufficiency of God's every word. |
| Lk 11:28 | Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! | Blessings come from not only hearing but actively obeying God's word. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | The importance of translating spiritual knowledge into practical action and obedience. |
| Jn 8:31-32 | So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” | Continuous dwelling in Christ's word leads to truth, freedom, and genuine discipleship. |
Proverbs 6 verses
Proverbs 6 21 Meaning
Proverbs 6:21 exhorts the hearer to profoundly internalize and constantly embody the divine instruction received, often through parents. This involves both deep, intellectual assimilation (the "heart") and a consistent, public manifestation in daily life and conduct (the "neck"), making God's wisdom an ever-present guide and adornment.
Proverbs 6 21 Context
Proverbs chapter 6 addresses various warnings against folly, commencing with imprudent financial guarantees (vv. 1-5), then admonitions against laziness (vv. 6-11) and the destructiveness of perverse behavior (vv. 12-19). Verses 20-35 transition to warnings against sexual immorality, specifically adultery. Within this shift, Proverbs 6:21 emphasizes the critical importance of continuously receiving, retaining, and living by the "commandment of your father and the teaching of your mother" (v. 20). The verse acts as the foundational method for upholding the wisdom necessary to resist the alluring but destructive paths warned against later in the chapter, particularly sexual temptation. It highlights that true protection comes from the deep internalization and outward practice of sound moral and spiritual instruction.
Proverbs 6 21 Word analysis
- Bind (קָשַׁר, qāšar): This verb signifies to fasten, tie securely, or knit together. Here, it is used metaphorically to mean to tightly affix divine instruction to one's innermost being. It implies an act of determined adherence, not easily undone, highlighting dedication.
- them: Refers to the "commandment of your father" and the "teaching of your mother" from the preceding verse (Prov 6:20), embodying wise, often divine, instruction.
- continually (תָּמִיד, tāmîd): Denotes constancy, perpetuity, or always. This emphasizes the non-negotiable, unwavering, and habitual nature of this internalization. It’s not an occasional act but an enduring state.
- on your heart (עַל־לִבֶּךָ, ‘al-libbekā): In ancient Hebrew thought, the "heart" (lēb) is the seat of intellect, will, memory, and moral character, not merely emotions. To bind something "on your heart" means to embed it deeply within one's mind, conscience, and desires, so it becomes foundational to one's thoughts and decisions.
- tie (כְּרֹךְ, kerōḵ): A different verb from qāšar, often meaning to wrap around, enfold, or bind. It complements "bind" by suggesting an encircling, protective attachment that is consistently present.
- around your neck (עַל־גָּרוֹנֶךָ, ‘al-gārônekā): The neck (gārôn) symbolizes both adornment and external expression in ancient cultures. Wearing something "around the neck" implied that it was a valued possession, constantly visible, accessible, and guiding one's path. Metaphorically, it means that the instruction should govern one's outward actions and public life, akin to a badge of identity or a protective amulet.
- "Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck": This phrase employs synonymous parallelism, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry. The parallelism reinforces the message: inner transformation (heart) must lead to outer demonstration (neck). It emphasizes an all-encompassing adherence to wisdom—both private thought life and public conduct. The imagery suggests a deep, personal commitment that results in a visible, guiding influence over one's entire being. The instruction is not to be a burden but a protective and beautifying ornament.
Proverbs 6 21 Bonus section
- The metaphor of binding and tying divine wisdom is also a conceptual precursor to the Jewish custom of tefillin (phylacteries), worn on the arm and forehead during prayer, which literally fulfill the commands of Deut 6:8. While the Proverb's instruction is primarily metaphorical and inward, the underlying principle of keeping God's word perpetually before oneself is consistent.
- This verse elevates the value of divine instruction above any mere material adornment or ritualistic act. It positions God's word as something more precious and significant than any physical jewel or protective charm one might wear, being both spiritually vital and outwardly transformative.
- The verse, like much of Proverbs, implies an active, intentional engagement with wisdom, rather than passive reception. The verbs "bind" and "tie" suggest a volitional act of embracing and integrating truth.
- This proactive embrace of wisdom outlined in Prov 6:21 serves as the crucial defense against the dangers explicitly warned about later in the chapter, such as seduction by an immoral woman (Prov 6:24-35). Without internalized and visibly guiding instruction, one is left vulnerable to folly and destruction.
Proverbs 6 21 Commentary
Proverbs 6:21 powerfully urges an all-encompassing commitment to godly instruction. The imagery of binding something "on your heart" speaks to internalizing truth to its deepest possible level—not just intellectual assent but a profound assimilation that shapes one's thinking, motives, and character. This means God's word is woven into the very fabric of who you are, guiding your conscience and informing your choices from the inside out. Following this, to "tie them around your neck" refers to the outward manifestation of this internalized wisdom. It transforms abstract knowledge into tangible behavior, acting as a visible identifier of one's allegiance to God's ways and serving as a constant guide for one's actions and speech in the public sphere. It signifies a life visibly lived according to divine principles. This deep personal commitment and public display of obedience provide crucial protection and wisdom for navigating the temptations and complexities of life, particularly guarding against the moral pitfalls discussed throughout Proverbs.