Proverbs 22:6 · kjv
Proverbs 22:6 - Train Up a Child in the Way
“Ensine a criança no caminho em que deve andar, e, mesmo quando for velho, não se desviará dele.”
Proverbs 22:6 declares, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The Hebrew verb chanak (chanakh) means to dedicate, initiate, or inaugurate, the same root that gives the festival name Chanukah, the feast of dedication. It carries the sense of narrowing the palate, as a midwife would rub date juice on a newborn's gums to stimulate the desire to nurse. Training is therefore more than instruction; it is the inauguration of appetite and direction. The phrase "in the way he should go" uses derek, a worn path or manner of life, paired with the idiomatic "according to his mouth," suggesting training tailored to the child's individual bent and stage. The second clause promises that even in old age (zaqen) the seasoned character will not turn aside (sur) from that path. Solomon, the proverb's compiler, treats parenting not as control but as consecration, setting a child apart early so that the trajectory of a whole life bends toward wisdom. The verse assumes parents walk the path themselves, because children are discipled more by what they see than by what they are told. It also assumes grace, for the promise rests on God's covenant faithfulness, not on perfect technique.
Chapter Context
Proverbs 22:6 stands near the transition from Solomon's core proverbs into the "words of the wise" section beginning in verse 17. Chapter 22 gathers short sayings on reputation, wealth, humility, and family, framing the home as the primary workshop of wisdom. Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature often addressed a king's son or a royal apprentice, but Solomon applies the same careful instruction to every household. The proverb assumes a covenant community where parents, elders, and prophets all reinforce the same path of Torah and fear of the LORD. Like other proverbs, it states a general principle rather than an absolute guarantee, inviting trust in God's patient work across generations.
How to Apply This Verse
- Begin training in faith early, shaping worship, Scripture, and prayer habits before a child can articulate them, trusting that dedicated roots outlast rebellious seasons.
- Tailor discipleship to the unique child in front of you, noticing bent, gifting, and temperament rather than imposing a uniform mold.
- Walk the path yourself, since parents cannot train a child toward a way they are unwilling to travel; your example preaches louder than your correction.