Introduction to Proverbs 3:1
Proverbs 3:1 opens a section of parental instruction, where the speaker (likely Solomon) urges the son to retain wisdom and divine commandments. The verse combines negative and positive imperatives, contrasting forgetting (אַל־תִּשְׁכָּ֑ח) with guarding (יִצֹּ֥ר).
This verse consists of:
- A direct address to “my son” (בְּ֭נִי), indicating a wisdom tradition of fatherly guidance.
- A prohibitive imperative (אַל־תִּשְׁכָּ֑ח, “Do not forget”), urging memory and retention.
- A positive imperative (יִצֹּ֥ר, “Let your heart guard”), emphasizing internalization of commandments.
This study will analyze the grammatical construction of the imperatives, the semantic implications of memory and guarding, and the theological message of wisdom retention.
בְּ֭נִי תֹּורָתִ֣י אַל־תִּשְׁכָּ֑ח וּ֝מִצְוֹתַ֗י יִצֹּ֥ר לִבֶּֽךָ׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
- בְּ֭נִי (beni)
- Root: בֵּן (“son”)
- Form: Masculine singular noun with 1st person singular suffix (“my son”)
- Translation: “My son”
- Function: Marks direct address, a common feature in wisdom literature.
- תֹּורָתִ֣י (torati)
- Root: תּוֹרָה (“instruction, law”)
- Form: Feminine singular noun with 1st person singular suffix (“my instruction”)
- Translation: “My teaching”
- Function: Denotes divine or parental instruction, linking human wisdom to God’s law.
- אַל־תִּשְׁכָּ֑ח (al-tishkaḥ)
- Root: שָׁכַח (“to forget”)
- Form: Qal imperfect 2nd masculine singular with prohibitive אַל
- Translation: “Do not forget”
- Function: Denotes a command against neglecting wisdom.
- וּ֝מִצְוֹתַ֗י (u’mitzvotai)
- Root: מִצְוָה (“commandment”)
- Form: Feminine plural noun with 1st person singular suffix (“my commandments”)
- Translation: “My commandments”
- Function: Links wisdom with moral and religious obligation.
- יִצֹּ֥ר (yitzor)
- Root: נָצַר (“to guard, keep”)
- Form: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular, jussive nuance
- Translation: “Let your heart guard”
- Function: Encourages active internalization of divine instruction.
- לִבֶּֽךָ (libbekha)
- Root: לֵב (“heart”)
- Form: Masculine singular noun with 2nd person singular suffix (“your heart”)
- Translation: “Your heart”
- Function: Represents the seat of wisdom, moral discernment, and decision-making.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
The Prohibitive Imperative אַל־תִּשְׁכָּ֑ח (“Do Not Forget”)
Formed with אַל + imperfect, indicating a strong prohibition.
Forgetting in biblical wisdom literature often connotes neglecting divine commands, not mere memory loss.
The Jussive Nuance of יִצֹּ֥ר (“Let Your Heart Guard”)
Appears in imperfect form but functions as a jussive (expressing command or exhortation).
Guarding (נָצַר) is an active process, meaning internalization rather than passive retention.
The Parallelism of Law and Heart
Two halves of the verse mirror each other:
- “Do not forget” → mental activity.
- “Let your heart guard” → active moral engagement.
Theological Implications of Proverbs 3:1
- Wisdom Requires Active Retention
Forgetting is not passive but an act of neglect, implying an ethical responsibility to remember.
- The Heart as the Seat of Wisdom
The Hebrew concept of לֵב (“heart”) encompasses intellect, will, and emotion.
Guarding commandments suggests integration of divine instruction into one’s being.
- Obedience as the Key to Understanding
The contrast between forgetting and guarding indicates that wisdom is gained through discipline and reverence for divine law.
The Function of Memory and Guarding in Hebrew Wisdom Literature
Proverbs 3:1 demonstrates the interplay between memory and moral responsibility, showing that wisdom must not only be learned but actively retained and internalized. The imperatives “do not forget” and “let your heart guard” emphasize the continual effort required to preserve divine instruction.
Thus, this verse serves as both a grammatical model of Hebrew imperative commands and a theological exhortation to embrace wisdom as a lifelong pursuit.
