What does Proverbs 23:25 mean?
What is the meaning of Proverbs 23:25?

May your father and mother be glad

- The proverb speaks directly to grown children, urging lives that bring delight to their parents. It assumes a household where wisdom is passed down and now bears fruit.

- Scripture consistently links a child’s conduct with parental joy. “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother” (Proverbs 10:1). Living wisely is thus more than personal success; it is a gift back to those who raised us.

- Honor is not abstract. It shows up in choices—moral purity, diligence, kindness, reverence for God. When Paul restates the fifth commandment—“Honor your father and mother” (Ephesians 6:2)—he adds the promise “that it may go well with you,” echoing the relational blessing highlighted here.

- Glad parents testify that godly training was not wasted (Proverbs 22:6). Their gladness becomes a public witness to God’s faithfulness from one generation to the next.


and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

- The focus narrows to the mother, underscoring the cost of childbirth and nurturing. Her joy is portrayed as the climax of parental satisfaction.

- The verse values motherhood itself. Isaiah 66:13 compares God’s comfort to a mother’s, revealing the tenderness Scripture assigns to a mother’s role.

- A mother rejoices most when her children walk in truth. John writes, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4). The proverb places that same joy on the lips of every godly mother.

- By specifying “she who gave you birth,” the text reminds adults of permanent indebtedness. No stage of life dissolves the call to live in a way that blesses our mothers (Proverbs 31:28–29). Her lifelong labor deserves lifelong gratitude.


summary

Proverbs 23:25 calls sons and daughters to live wisely so their parents overflow with gladness. A father’s delight and a mother’s rejoicing are presented as rightful outcomes of children who fear the LORD, confirming God’s design for family: wisdom learned, lived, and celebrated from one generation to the next.

How does Proverbs 23:24 relate to the overall theme of wisdom in Proverbs?
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