I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
- BSB I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
- NKJV I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
- NASB I have instructed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
- NLT I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.
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
The father has taught the way of wisdom and led in upright paths. Godly instruction sets us on the right road.
Overview
The teacher reminds his son that he has been guided into wisdom's way and straight paths. The image of being led along a path stresses that wisdom is a whole direction of life, not isolated decisions. Christ himself is the way (John 14:6), and his Spirit leads his people in paths of righteousness (Ps 23:3; Rom 8:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ps 25:4–5Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
- Eccl 12:9And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
- Prov 8:9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
- Ps 23:3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
- Prov 8:6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
- 1 Sam 12:23–24Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
- Deut 4:5Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
- Prov 4:4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
- Acts 13:10And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
- Prov 8:20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
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 4:11 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.