My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
Parallel translations
- WEB My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine:
- KJV My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
- NKJV My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself;
- NASB ¶My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart also will be glad,
- NLT My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A parent's deepest joy is to see wisdom take root in a child's heart.
Overview
The teacher's gladness springs not from a child's success but from a wise heart. This reveals that the goal of instruction is inward transformation, not mere outward performance. It mirrors the joy of God over those who walk in truth, and of Christ's servants over the spiritual maturing of their children in the faith (3 John 4).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Prov 23:24–25The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
- 2 Jn 1:4I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
- 3 Jn 1:3–4For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
- Zeph 3:17The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
- Prov 29:3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
- Prov 2:1My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
- John 15:11I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
- 1 Th 3:8–9For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.
- Prov 4:1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
- 1 Jn 2:1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
- Jer 32:41Yes, I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.
- Prov 1:10My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
- Prov 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
- Prov 15:20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
- John 21:5So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered.
- Matt 9:2Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
- Luke 15:23–24Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
- 1 Th 2:19–20After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
- Luke 15:32But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 23:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.