New International Version turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— New Living Translation Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. English Standard Version making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; Berean Standard Bible if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, Berean Literal Bible to make your ear attentive to wisdom, you incline your heart to understanding. King James Bible So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; New King James Version So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; New American Standard Bible Make your ear attentive to wisdom; Incline your heart to understanding. NASB 1995 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; NASB 1977 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; Legacy Standard Bible To make your ear pay attention to wisdom, Incline your heart to discernment; Amplified Bible So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly]; Berean Annotated Bible if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, Christian Standard Bible listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; Holman Christian Standard Bible listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; American Standard Version So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding; Contemporary English Version Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. English Revised Version So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; GOD'S WORD® Translation if you pay close attention to wisdom, and let your mind reach for understanding, Good News Translation Listen to what is wise and try to understand it. International Standard Version making your ear attentive to wisdom, and turning your heart to understanding— NET Bible by making your ear attentive to wisdom, and by turning your heart to understanding, New Heart English Bible So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Webster's Bible Translation So that thou incline thy ear to wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleif you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, World English Bible so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionTo cause your ear to attend to wisdom, "" You incline your heart to understanding, Berean Literal Bible to make your ear attentive to wisdom, you incline your heart to understanding. Young's Literal Translation To cause thine ear to attend to wisdom, Thou inclinest thy heart to understanding, Smith's Literal Translation To attend to wisdom thou wilt incline thine ear, thy heart to understanding; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThat thy ear may hearken to wisdom: Incline thy heart to know prudence: Catholic Public Domain Version so that your ears may listen to wisdom, then bend your heart in order to know prudence. New American Bible Turning your ear to wisdom, inclining your heart to understanding; New Revised Standard Version making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you will incline your ear to wisdom and turn your heart to understanding OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917So that thou make thine ear attend unto wisdom, And thy heart incline to discernment; Brenton Septuagint Translation thine ear shall hearken to wisdom; thou shalt also apply thine heart to understanding, and shalt apply it to the instruction of thy son. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Benefits of Wisdom1My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, 2if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, 3if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,… Cross References if you incline your ear to wisdom Proverbs 4:20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David. Psalm 78:1 A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth. and direct your heart to understanding, Proverbs 15:14 A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out. Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart. James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. Proverbs 1:5 let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel Proverbs 8:1-5 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice? / On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand. / Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out: … Proverbs 22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge— Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Ephesians 1:17-18 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. / I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, Psalm 119:125 I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies. Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 1 Kings 3:9 Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” Treasury of Scripture So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; thou Proverbs 18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. Psalm 119:111,112 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart… Isaiah 55:3 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. apply Psalm 22:17-21 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me… Psalm 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Jump to Previous Apply Applying Attend Attention Attentive Cause Discernment Ear Gives Heart Incline Making Turn Turned Turning Understanding WisdomJump to Next Apply Applying Attend Attention Attentive Cause Discernment Ear Gives Heart Incline Making Turn Turned Turning Understanding WisdomProverbs 2 1. wisdom promises godliness to her children10. and safety from evil company 20. and direction in good ways if you incline your ear to wisdom The father calls his son to give deliberate attention to the wisdom that comes from God. In a culture where instruction was commonly received by hearing, listening involved humble readiness to obey. Wisdom cries out publicly in Proverbs 1:20–23, yet it must be received rather than ignored. Israel was likewise commanded to hear the Lord in the Shema and to keep His words at the center of life (Deuteronomy 6:4–9). God remains the source of wisdom, and He gives it to those who seek Him in faith (James 1:5). Pro 4:20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear… and direct your heart to understanding, The heart includes the inner life of thought, desire, and will; it must be intentionally turned toward God’s truth. Understanding is not mere information but discernment that enables a person to walk in the fear of the Lord. Solomon sought such an understanding heart so that he could judge God’s people rightly, and the Lord granted his request (1 Kings 3:9–12). All true wisdom ultimately finds its fullness in Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Pro 15:14 A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool… Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was known for his wisdom, which he received from God. His writings in Proverbs are intended to impart wisdom and understanding to the reader. 2. Israel The original audience of the Proverbs, the people of Israel were encouraged to live according to God's wisdom and understanding. 3. Wisdom and Understanding These are personified throughout Proverbs as valuable treasures to be sought after diligently. They represent divine insight and moral discernment. Teaching Points Attentiveness to WisdomActively listen for God's wisdom in your daily life. This requires intentional focus and a willingness to hear God's voice through Scripture, prayer, and godly counsel. Inclining the Heart Cultivate a heart posture that is open and eager to understand God's ways. This involves a deliberate choice to prioritize spiritual growth and moral discernment. The Role of Discipline Developing attentiveness and inclination requires discipline. Regular Bible study, prayer, and meditation on God's Word are essential practices. The Value of Wisdom Recognize the immense value of wisdom and understanding as treasures that lead to a fulfilling and righteous life. Pursue them with the same diligence as one would pursue material wealth. Practical Application Apply the wisdom and understanding gained from God's Word to everyday decisions and interactions. Let it guide your actions and attitudes. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Proverbs 2:2?2. How can you "incline your ear to wisdom" in daily life decisions? 3. What steps help "apply your heart to understanding" God's teachings? 4. How does Proverbs 2:2 connect with James 1:5 about seeking wisdom? 5. In what ways can you prioritize listening to God's wisdom over worldly advice? 6. How can Proverbs 2:2 guide your prayer life for seeking understanding? 7. How does Proverbs 2:2 encourage the pursuit of wisdom in daily life? 8. What is the significance of inclining your ear to wisdom in Proverbs 2:2? 9. How does Proverbs 2:2 relate to the broader theme of wisdom in the Bible? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 2? What Does Proverbs 2:2 Mean if you incline your ear to wisdom• “If” signals a choice. God lays out a pathway, but we must step onto it. The setting is a father urging his son: “My son, if you receive my words” (Proverbs 2:1), and the very next move is attentive listening. • “Incline your ear” pictures a deliberate lean toward what is true. Psalm 78:1 urges, “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching,” while Isaiah 55:3 pleads, “Incline your ear and come to Me.” In the New Testament the pattern remains: “So faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17). • This is active, not passive. Wisdom is not caught by osmosis; it is pursued. Proverbs 1:5 says, “Let the wise listen and gain instruction.” James 1:19 echoes, “Everyone should be quick to listen.” • Practically, inclining the ear means – Setting aside unhurried time to read or listen to Scripture daily. – Seeking wise voices—sermons that open the Word, friends who fear the Lord, older believers who have walked the road longer (Proverbs 13:20). – Filtering conversations, media, and entertainment through the question, “Does this tune my ear to God’s wisdom or dull it?” and direct your heart to understanding • The heart in Scripture is the control center of will, desire, and affection (Proverbs 4:23). “Direct” carries the sense of aiming or steering—an intentional, internal alignment. • “Understanding” is insight rooted in God’s perspective. Proverbs 3:5–6 puts it together: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • This involves: – A conscious surrender: “Teach me Your way, O LORD” (Psalm 86:11), handing Him the compass. – A desire for illumination: Paul prays that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18). – Continuous intake: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16), feeding the heart until understanding becomes instinctive. – Guarding affections: Psalm 119:36 asks, “Turn my heart toward Your testimonies and not toward selfish gain,” because rival loves will tug the heart off course. • Directing the heart also means acting on what we learn. Jesus links understanding and obedience when He says, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man” (Matthew 7:24). Knowledge that stops at the head never matures into wisdom. summary Proverbs 2:2 calls for two coordinated movements. First, bend the ear—an outward posture of eager listening to God’s revealed wisdom. Second, steer the heart—an inward resolve to let that wisdom shape motives, choices, and affections. When we do both, the promise of the chapter unfolds: knowledge of God, discernment, protection, and the enjoyment of His paths that “are pleasant” and “lead to peace” (Proverbs 3:17). Verse 2. - This verse is dependent on the preceding. So that thou incline. The literal translation is "to incline;" but the inclination of the ear and the application of the heart follow as a consequence upon the precepting ideas (cf. the Vulgate, ut audiat sapientiam auris tua). The root idea of the original (קָשַׁב kashav) is "to sharpen," viz. the ear as expressed, and so to give diligent attention to the precepts of Wisdom. In Proverbs 1:24 it is rendered "to regard." To apply thine heart is to turn the heart with the whole scope of its powers, in the spirit of humility and eagerness, to understanding. As the ear represents the outward vehicle of communication, so the heart (לִב, lev) represents the inward, the intellectual faculty, the mind, or it may mean the affections as suggested by the LXX. καρδία and Vulgate cor. Understanding (תְּבוּנָה, t'vunah) is here interchanged with "wisdom," which must determine its meaning to some extent. The LXX. interpreters take it as σύνεσις, the faculty of comprehension." Like בִינָה (vinah) in Proverbs 1:2, the word describes the faculty of distinguishing or separating: but it does not appear to be here used as representing this "as a faculty of the soul, but as a Divine power which communicates itself as the gift of God" (Delitzsch). A second and perhaps simpler sense may be given to the sentence. It may mean the turning or applying of the heart in an affectionate and loving way, i.e. with full purpose, to the discrimination of what is right and what wrong. The ideas of wisdom and understanding seem to some extent to be brought forward as personifications. They are things outside of ourselves, to which we have to give attention. Religion appeals not only to the affections, but also to the intellect, as this satisfies all the yearnings of our nature.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew if you inclineלְהַקְשִׁ֣יב (lə·haq·šîḇ) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 7181: To prick up the ears, hearken your ear אָזְנֶ֑ךָ (’ā·zə·ne·ḵā) Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear to wisdom לַֽחָכְמָ֣ה (la·ḥā·ḵə·māh) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2451: Wisdom and direct תַּטֶּ֥ה (taṭ·ṭeh) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend your heart לִ֝בְּךָ֗ (lib·bə·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre to understanding, לַתְּבוּנָֽה׃ (lat·tə·ḇū·nāh) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8394: Intelligence, an argument, caprice Additonal Resources Proverbs 2:2 Blue Letter BibleProverbs 2:2 Bible Gateway Proverbs 2:2 Bible.com Proverbs 2:2 NIV |
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