Proverbs 4:3

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּי־בֵ֭ן הָיִ֣יתִי לְאָבִ֑י רַ֥ךְ וְ֝יָחִ֗יד לִפְנֵ֥י אִמִּֽי׃

Transliteration

kî-bēn hāyîtî ləʾābî rak wə-yāḥîd lipnê ʾimmî

Grammar Details

*kî-bēn*: conjunction + masculine singular noun - for/because a son
*hāyîtî*: perfect, 1st person singular, qal - I was
*ləʾābî*: preposition + masculine singular noun + 1st person singular suffix - to my father
*rak*: adjective, masculine singular - tender/young/delicate
*wə-yāḥîd*: conjunction + adjective, masculine singular - and only/unique/beloved
*lipnê*: preposition + plural construct noun - before/in the presence of
*ʾimmî*: feminine singular noun + 1st person singular suffix - my mother

Word Meanings

*rak*: tender/young/delicate/gentle
*yāḥîd*: only/unique/beloved/precious

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

1 Chr 22:5 : 5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for Jehovah must be exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
1 Chr 29:1 : 1 And David the king said unto all the assembly, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Jehovah God.
Jer 10:23 : 23 O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Zech 12:10 : 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.
Rom 12:16 : 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.
2 Sam 12:24-25 : 24 And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon. And Jehovah loved him; 25 and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, for Jehovah's sake.
1 Kgs 1:13-17 : 13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thy handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? 14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words. 15 And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering unto the king. 16 And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou? 17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by Jehovah thy God unto thy handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
1 Chr 3:5 : 5 and these were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel;

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 4:4
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Prov 6:20
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Prov 8:30-32
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Song 3:4
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Prov 23:25-26
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25Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice.
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Prov 27:11
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Song 8:1-2
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1Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! [When] I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; Yea, and none would despise me.
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Prov 31:2
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Prov 23:15
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Gen 27:8
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1 Chr 17:13
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2 Sam 7:14
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Job 29:4-5
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4As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was upon my tent;
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Prov 4:10-11
2 verses
71%
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.
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Ps 27:10
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Ps 71:6
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Ps 35:14
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Prov 10:1
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Ps 22:9-10
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9But thou art he that took me out of the womb; Thou didst make me trust [when I was] upon my mother's breasts.
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Ps 51:5
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Prov 7:1
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Prov 17:25
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Prov 5:7
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Prov 2:1
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Jer 20:17
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Prov 15:20
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