Proverbs · Chapter 22 · Family
Proverbs 22:6 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
KJV · King James Version
"Train up2596 a child5288 in the way1870 he should go6310: and when he is old2204, he will not depart5493 from it. Train: or, Catechise in: Heb. in his way"
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses catechise, heb, his. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Proverbs 22:6 in Proverbs 22
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Proverbs 22:6 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Proverbs 22. Read the full chapter →
- v.4 The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.
- v.5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
- v.6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
- v.7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
- v.8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
Book background
About the Book of Proverbs
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Genre
- Wisdom literature
- Author
- Solomon (primarily), Agur, Lemuel
- Date written
- c. 970–700 BC
- Audience
- Young men learning the wisdom of the covenant
- Chapters
- 31
Proverbs offers practical, observable wisdom for living under God in the everyday world — speech, money, marriage, friendship, work, anger. Its core thesis is in 1:7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." Chapter 31 closes with the famous portrait of the wise woman whose worth is "far above rubies."
Setting: Compiled across multiple reigns; Solomon's collection plus later additions.
Key themes: wisdom · fear of the LORD · speech · work · relationships
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Proverbs 22:6
Proverbs 22:6 contains 21 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
Train up a child in the way he should go
TUACIT
- 2
and when he is old he will not depart from it.
AWHIOH
Frequently asked
FAQ about Proverbs 22:6
What does Proverbs 22:6 say?
Proverbs 22:6 reads: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." — from the Old Testament, Proverbs (Wisdom literature). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Proverbs 22:6 in?
Proverbs 22:6 is in the book of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to Solomon (primarily), Agur, Lemuel and written around c. 970–700 BC. Proverbs is wisdom literature in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Young men learning the wisdom of the covenant. Best known for "trust in the LORD with all your heart" (3:5-6).
What is Proverbs 22:6 about?
Proverbs 22:6 is primarily a Bible verse about Family. Within Proverbs, Proverbs offers practical, observable wisdom for living under God in the everyday world — speech, money, marriage, friendship, work, anger. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Proverbs 22:6 in WEB and KJV?
Proverbs 22:6 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Train up2596 a child5288 in the way1870 he should go6310: and when he is old2204, he will not depart5493 from it. Train: or, Catechise in: Heb. in his way". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Proverbs 22:6?
Proverbs 22:6 is 21 words in the WEB translation (88 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 6 seconds.
How can I memorise Proverbs 22:6?
To memorise Proverbs 22:6, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Proverbs 22:6 matter in Proverbs?
Proverbs offers practical, observable wisdom for living under God in the everyday world — speech, money, marriage, friendship, work, anger. Its core thesis is in 1:7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." Chapter 31 closes with the famous portrait of the wise woman whose worth is "far above rubies." Proverbs 22:6 sits within this larger story — Proverbs as a whole emphasises wisdom, fear of the LORD, speech.
How can I apply Proverbs 22:6 today?
Many readers use Proverbs 22:6 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Proverbs 22:6 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
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Joshua 24:15
“If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the go…”
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Ruth 1:16
“Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be…”
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Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.”
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Exodus 20:12
““Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.”
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Psalms 127:3
“Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.”
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Psalms 127:1
“A Song of Ascents. By Solomon. Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it…”
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Ephesians 6:1
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
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John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
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Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
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Psalm 23:1
“Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.”
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“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
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Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.”
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Proverbs 27:17
“Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.”
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