חֲנֹ֣ךְ לַ֭נַּעַר עַל־פִּ֣י דַרְכֹּ֑ו גַּ֥ם כִּֽי־֝יַזְקִ֗ין לֹֽא־יָס֥וּר מִמֶּֽנָּה׃
(Proverbs 22:6)
Train the youth according to his way; even when he grows old, he will not turn away from it.
A Proverb with a Long View
This well-known verse offers practical wisdom about education and lifelong formation. Its grammar is simple yet elegant, conveying a profound principle through the use of imperative command, construct chain idiom, and a temporal conditional clause. The structure reveals how formative instruction connects to enduring behavior.
The Imperative: חֲנֹ֣ךְ לַנַּעַר
- חֲנֹךְ – Imperative 2ms from the root ח־נ־ך, “to dedicate, train, initiate”
- לַנַּעַר – “to the youth” (preposition לְ + definite article + noun)
The verb חֲנֹךְ has connotations of formal dedication or ritual beginning, especially in temple language. Here, it is metaphorically applied to education: train/initiate the youth.
Construct Phrase: עַל־פִּ֣י דַרְכֹּ֑ו
This construct phrase guides the method:
- עַל־פִּ֣י – “according to the mouth of…” (an idiom meaning “according to”)
- דַרְכֹּ֑ו – “his way” (from דֶרֶךְ, “way, path” + 3ms suffix)
Together: “according to his way”—that is, his temperament, disposition, or developmental path. Hebrew expresses adapted instruction through this construct form.
Temporal Conditional Clause: גַּ֥ם כִּֽי־יַזְקִין
The second half offers a future condition:
- גַּם – “also” or “even” (adds emphasis)
- כִּֽי־יַזְקִין – “when he grows old” (from ז־ק־ן, Qal imperfect 3ms with conditional כִּי)
This clause anticipates aging and connects early training with lifelong effect.
Syntax Table: Structure of the Verse
| Clause | Function | Grammar Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| חֲנֹךְ לַנַּעַר | Imperative Command | 2ms Imperative |
| עַל־פִּי דַרְכּוֹ | Instructional Manner | Construct Chain |
| גַּם כִּי־יַזְקִין | Temporal Clause | Imperfect with כִּי |
| לֹא־יָסוּר מִמֶּנָּה | Negative Result | Imperfect + מִן |
Negative Result Clause: לֹא־יָסוּר מִמֶּנָּה
- לֹא יָסוּר – “he will not turn aside” (Qal imperfect 3ms from סוּר)
- מִמֶּנָּה – “from it” (3fs pronominal suffix; refers to דַרְכּוֹ)
This is a result clause: if trained rightly, the youth will not depart from his path. The use of future imperfect + negation expresses enduring habit.
Grammar as Moral Pedagogy
Proverbs 22:6 is both grammatically efficient and morally weighty. Through:
- Imperative mood for urgency
- Construct chain idiom for personalization
- Conditional clause for long-term foresight
- Negative imperfect for enduring character
—it gives parents, educators, and communities a syntactic roadmap for shaping a life. In Biblical Hebrew, wisdom is not only what you say—it’s how it’s built.