What is the meaning of Proverbs 23:22?

Listen to your father who gave you life

“Listen to your father who gave you life…”

• Scripture plainly calls us to an attitude of attentive obedience. “Listen” is more than passively hearing; it is the same heart posture urged in Proverbs 1:8–9 and Proverbs 4:1–2—an eager, teachable spirit that receives wisdom.

• God places fathers in the home as a primary source of guidance (Ephesians 6:4). When the verse reminds us that a father “gave you life,” it underlines the debt of gratitude owed to the one God used to bring us into the world (cf. Deuteronomy 32:6).

• Honoring a father is not optional or cultural; it is the fifth commandment’s timeless requirement (Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:1–3).

• Active listening bears fruit:

– Protection from destructive paths (Proverbs 6:20–23).

– Growth in wisdom that benefits every generation (Proverbs 13:1).

– A life that pleases the Lord, securing His promise of blessing (Colossians 3:20).

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and do not despise your mother when she is old

“…and do not despise your mother when she is old.”

• “Do not despise” pushes beyond mere external respect. It warns against any attitude—verbal, emotional, or practical—that belittles or neglects a mother. Proverbs 20:20 shows the seriousness: contempt invites darkness over one’s life.

• As mothers age, their physical strength may wane, but their value does not. Leviticus 19:32 commands us to “rise in the presence of the aged,” while 1 Timothy 5:3–4 instructs children to repay their parents with tangible care.

• The verse treats a mother’s senior years as a sacred season, rich with hard-earned wisdom (Proverbs 31:26). The faithful child gives honor, support, and affection—mirroring Ruth’s devotion to Naomi (Ruth 1:16–17).

• Practical ways not to despise:

– Speak graciously and listen patiently (James 1:19).

– Provide for her needs—financial, medical, emotional (Mark 7:10–12).

– Defend her dignity publicly and privately (Proverbs 31:28–29).

– Seek her counsel; age deepens discernment (Job 12:12).

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summary

Proverbs 23:22 ties the lifelong duty of honoring parents to the fabric of God’s unchanging wisdom. Listening to a father and refusing to belittle an aging mother flow from the same heart attitude: grateful submission to the Lord who designed family order. Those who embrace this command receive protection, wisdom, and blessing, while they reflect the very character of God, who faithfully cares for His children.