My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
Parallel translations
- WEB My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine:
- BSB My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
- 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 the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
- 2 Jn 1:4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
- 3 Jn 1:3–4For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
- Zeph 3:17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
- Prov 29:3Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
- Prov 2:1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
- John 15:11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
- 1 Th 3:8–9For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
- Prov 4:1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
- 1 Jn 2:1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
- Jer 32:41Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
- Prov 1:10My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
- Prov 10:1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
- Prov 15:20A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
- John 21:5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
- Matt 9:2And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
- Luke 15:23–24And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
- 1 Th 2:19–20For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
- Luke 15:32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and 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.