Proverbs 22:17

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הַ֥ט אָזְנְךָ֗ וּ֖‪שְׁמַע דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֑ים וְ֝לִבְּךָ֗ תָּשִׁ֥ית לְדַעְתִּֽי׃

Transliteration

haṭ 'oznĕKā and šĕma' dibrê ḥăKāmîm; and libbeKā tāšîT to da'Tî.

Grammar Details

• *haṭ*: verb, Hiphil imperative, masculine singular - incline/turn
• *'oznĕKā*: noun with pronominal suffix, feminine singular - your ear
• *šĕma'*: verb, Qal imperative, masculine singular - hear/listen
• *dibrê*: noun, masculine plural construct - words of
• *ḥăKāmîm*: adjective used as noun, masculine plural - wise ones
• *libbeKā*: noun with pronominal suffix, masculine singular - your heart
• *tāšîT*: verb, Qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular - you will set/apply
• to: preposition, *lĕ* - to
• *da'Tî*: noun with pronominal suffix, feminine singular - my knowledge

Word Meanings

• *haṭ*: incline/turn/bend
• *'oznĕKā*: your ear/your hearing
• *šĕma'*: hear/listen to/obey
• *dibrê*: words of/sayings of/matters of
• *ḥăKāmîm*: wise ones/sages/skilled persons
• *libbeKā*: your heart/your mind/your inner self
• *tāšîT*: apply/set/place/direct
• *da'Tî*: my knowledge/my understanding/my insight

Referenced Verses

• Prov 23:12 : 12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
• Eccl 7:25 : 25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
• Eccl 8:9 : 9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
• Eccl 8:16 : 16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth:(for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)
• Isa 55:3 : 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
• Matt 17:5 : 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
• Ps 90:12 : 12 So teach{H8685)} us to number{H8800)} our days, that we may apply{H8686)} our hearts unto wisdom.
• Prov 1:3 : 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
• Prov 2:2-5 : 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
• Prov 3:1 : 1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
• Prov 4:4-8 : 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
• Prov 5:1-2 : 1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
• Prov 8:33-34 : 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.