22:6

The first line of this proverb is an admonition directed to a parent and/or teacher. The second line gives the result.

6a Train a child in the way he should go,

6b and when he is old he will not turn from it.

This proverb teaches that proper moral training of children will have a lasting effect in their lives.

22:6a

Train up: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Train refers here to moral teaching and training.

a child: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as child can refer to any male from infancy up to early adulthood. In this context, it probably refers to a young child.

in the way he should go: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “according to his way.” It is implied that this “way” is the right way, the path that the child ought to take.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Start a child on the right road (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Train children how to live right (New Century Version)
-or-
Teach children how they should live (Good News Translation)

22:6b

and when he is old he will not depart from it: This clause refers to the time between mature adulthood and old age. It implies that the child will stay on the right path as he matures and becomes old. He will not abandon the righteous way of life that he was trained to follow as a child.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and even in old age he will not leave it (Revised English Bible)
-or-
and when they are old, they will not change (New Century Version)
-or-
and when they are grown they will still do right (Contemporary English Version)

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