My son
This phrase is a tender address, indicating a personal and intimate relationship. In Hebrew, "בְּנִי" (beni) is used, which is a term of endearment and instruction. It reflects the familial context in which wisdom is often passed down, emphasizing the importance of generational teaching. In a broader sense, it can be seen as God addressing His children, urging them to heed His wisdom.

do not forget
The Hebrew word "תִּשְׁכַּח" (tishkach) implies more than just a lapse in memory; it suggests a deliberate neglect or disregard. In the ancient Near Eastern context, remembering was an active, intentional process. This phrase calls for a conscious effort to retain and apply the teachings, highlighting the human tendency to drift away from divine wisdom if not actively engaged.

my teaching
The term "תּוֹרָתִי" (torati) is derived from "Torah," which means instruction or law. It encompasses not just legalistic commands but a holistic way of life. In the Jewish tradition, Torah is the foundation of moral and spiritual guidance. This phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of divine instruction, which is meant to guide every aspect of life.

but let your heart
The heart, "לִבֶּךָ" (libecha) in Hebrew, is considered the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. In biblical times, the heart was seen as the seat of decision-making and moral character. This phrase emphasizes the internalization of wisdom, suggesting that true adherence to God's commandments comes from a heartfelt commitment.

keep
The Hebrew word "יִשְׁמֹר" (yishmor) means to guard, protect, or observe. It conveys a sense of vigilance and careful attention. In the context of ancient Israel, keeping the commandments was not just about obedience but about safeguarding one's relationship with God. This phrase calls for an active, ongoing commitment to live according to divine principles.

my commandments
The term "מִצְוֹתַי" (mitzvotai) refers to God's directives or orders. In the biblical context, commandments are not arbitrary rules but expressions of God's will and character. They are designed to lead to a life of righteousness and blessing. This phrase highlights the importance of aligning one's life with God's standards, recognizing them as the path to true wisdom and fulfillment.

Verses 1-18. - 4. Fourth admonitory discourse. The third chapter introduces us to a group of admonitions, and the first of these (vers. 1-18) forms the fourth admonitory discourse of the teacher. To all intents and purposes this is a continuation of the discourse in the preceding chapter, for inasmuch as that described the benefits, spiritual and moral, which follow from the pursuit of Wisdom, in promoting godliness and providing safety from evil companions, so this in like manner depicts the gain flowing from Wisdom, the happiness of the man who finds Wisdom, and the favour which he meets with both with God and man. The discourse embraces exhortations to obedience (vers. 1-4), to reliance on God (vers. 5, 6) against self-sufficiency and self-dependence (vers. 7, 8), to self-sacrificing devotion to God (vers. 9, 10), to patient submission to God's afflictive dispensations (vers. 11, 12), and concludes with pointing out the happy gain of Wisdom, her incomparable value, and wherein that value consists (vers. 13-18). It is noticeable that in each case the exhortation is accompanied with a corresponding promise of reward (vers, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10), and these promises are brought forward with the view to encourage the observance of the duties recommended or enjoined. Jehovah is the central point to which all the exhortations converge. Obedience, trust, self-sacrificing devotion, submission, are successively brought forward by the teacher as due to God, and the persons in whom they are exhibited are truly happy in finding Wisdom. The transition in thought from the former to the latter part of the discourse is easy and natural. Obedience and trust are represented as bringing favour, guidance, and health - in a word, prosperity. But God is not only to be honoured in times of prosperity, but also in adversity his loving hand is to be recognized; and in this submission to his will is true wisdom. Verse 1. - My son (b'ni) serves to externally connect this discourse with the preceding. Forget not my law. This admonition bears a strong resemblance to that in Proverbs 1:8, though the terms employed are somewhat different, torah and mits'oth here occupying the place respectively of musar and torah in that passage. My law (torathi), is literally, my teaching, or doctrine, from the root yarah, "to teach." The torah is the whole body of salutary doctrine, and designates "Law" from the standpoint of teaching. Forgetting here is not So much oblivion arising from defective memory, as a wilful disregard and neglect of the admonitions of the teacher. Thine heart (libekha); Vulgate, cor; LXX., καρδία and so the sum total of the affections. Keep; yitstsor, from notsar, "to keep, or observe that which is commanded." The word is of frequent occurrence in the Proverbs, and appears about twenty-five times. My commandments (mits'othay); Vulgate, praecepta mea; LXX., τὰ ῤήματα μου; i.e. my precepts. The Hebrew verb from which it is derived means "to command, or prescribe." The law and commandments here alluded to are those which immediately follow, from ver. 3 onwards. The three main ideas combined in this verse are remembrance, affection, and obedience. Remembering the law or teaching will depend, to a large extent, on the interest felt in that law; and the admonition to "forget not" is an admonition to give "earnest heed," so that the law or teaching may be firmly fixed in the mind. In using the words, "let thy heart keep," the teacher goes to the root of the matter. There may be an historical remembrance of, or an intellectual assent to, the commandments, but these are insufficient, for the keeping of the commandments must be based on the recognition of the fact that the affections of the heart are to be employed in the service of God, the keeping of the commandments is to be a labour of love. Again, the expression, "keep my commandments," implies, of course, external conformity to their requirements: we are "to observe to do them" (Deuteronomy 8:1); but it implies, further, spiritual obedience, i.e. an obedience with which love is combined (Deuteronomy 30:20), and which arises from the inward principles of the heart being in harmony with the spirit of the commandments (see Wardlaw).

Parallel Commentaries ...


My son,
בְּ֭נִי (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

forget
תִּשְׁכָּ֑ח (tiš·kāḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention

my teaching,
תּוֹרָתִ֣י (tō·w·rā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

but let your heart
לִבֶּֽךָ׃ (lib·be·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

keep
יִצֹּ֥ר (yiṣ·ṣōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5341: To watch, guard, keep

my commandments;
וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י (ū·miṣ·wō·ṯay)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4687: Commandment


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 3:1 My son don't forget my teaching (Prov. Pro Pr)