What is the meaning of Proverbs 17:6? Grandchildren are the crown of the aged “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged” (Proverbs 17:6a). • A crown represents honor, reward, and visible dignity. God pictures grandchildren as the aged believer’s public badge of blessing. • Psalm 128:6 echoes the same longing: “that you may see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!” Long life that reaches to grandchildren is portrayed as God-given peace. • Genesis 48:11 shows Jacob overwhelmed at this gift: “I never expected to see your face again, but now God has let me see your offspring as well.” The aged patriarch wears the “crown” of Joseph’s sons on the spot. • Proverbs 13:22 reminds us that “a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,” encouraging grandparents to pass on spiritual and practical wealth. • Practical outworking: – Speak blessing over grandchildren, as Jacob did. – Model faith; Titus 2:2 calls older men “worthy of respect” so the next generations can safely imitate them. – Invest time; 1 Timothy 5:4 praises descendants who “repay their parents,” assuming a relationship close enough for service, love, and shared legacy. and the glory of a son is his father “…and the glory of a son is his father” (Proverbs 17:6b). • “Glory” points to pride, identity, and a sense of worth. A son’s healthy confidence grows out of a father whose life is admirable. • Exodus 20:12 commands, “Honor your father and mother,” but that honor becomes natural when a father’s character is worthy of it. • Proverbs 20:7 explains why: “The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.” A father’s integrity is the child’s glory. • Ephesians 6:4 warns fathers not to “provoke your children to wrath,” showing that paternal failure can cloud a son’s glory; faithful guidance builds it. • 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 pictures Paul acting “as a father treats his own children, encouraging and comforting and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God.” Spiritual fathering adds eternal weight to a child’s glory. • Practical outworking: – Fathers guard their witness; lapses stain a child’s reputation. – Provide loving discipline and clear instruction so children can stand tall in society and the church. – Live transparently; when a father repents quickly and walks humbly, the son can boast, “My dad follows Christ.” summary Proverbs 17:6 presents two parallel truths: grandparents receive a crown of honor through seeing the faithfulness of God in their grandchildren, and children receive a sense of glory through fathers whose lives are upright and godly. Scripture calls every generation to cherish the ones before and after it, weaving a tapestry of honor that magnifies the Lord in family life. |
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