Daily Devotional For Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Good morning Southside! Over the last week or so, we have been looking at some Proverbs in the Bible. Today, I want us to look at one that is misused and misinterpreted – Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (ESV). The main goal for every Christian parent is to raise their children in a way that when they transition from childhood, to teens and then to adulthood, they continue in their growth and maturity with the Lord Jesus Christ. When this does not happen, the big question parents want the answer to is, “Why God?”
Is it because the parents messed up? Is it because their child or children are the incarnation of real demons? For many parents, this Proverb has caused them to become disillusioned with God and their faith. We must remember: this is a proverb, it’s not a promise, though some preachers through the years have led many to think it is an unconditional promise from God.
So, let’s quickly unpack this Old Testament verse by looking at individual words in it to learn what it is really saying from the Hebrew language:
- First, the Hebrew word translated as “train” is [חנך, chanokh] and it is often translated as “dedicate.” it literally refers to the palate in the mouth.
- It means “to create a thirst” in the child. In biblical days, when a baby was born, the mother or midwife would take the juice of some crushed dates and put the juice on her finger and then put her finger in the baby’s mouth, massaging the gums and inner lining of the mouth. This would cause the baby’s suckling desire or sensation to taste to start. The midwife would give the baby back to the mother and the mother would then place the baby’s mouth on her breast to nurse and feed. Over time, this Hebrew word was used to mean “to create a thirst for righteousness and consecration.”
- The Hebrew word translated as “way” is [דָּרַךְ, derekh] and it means “characteristic, manner or mode.” This means each child responds differently to correction and discipline even in the same family. This means that different approaches or styles have to be used based on each child’s personality. Therefore, a godly parent has to observe what is keeping with or in cooperation to what manner which works best with each child individually. To apply the same style of correcting and discipling to each child can cause a desire within them to rebel.
- Today, we could translate this as “in keeping with . . .” or “in cooperation with . . .” or “in accordance to . . .” with or to what? — “in the way he should go.” In Hebrew, we would translate this as “according to his way.” Not your way as a parent, but his or her way as a child. Meaning, not all parenting can be the same. You have to watch and observe what methods work best with your child in terms of training and discipline. How your parents did this to you may not work with your own child. It could cause them to rebel and go a different way. Each child has it own bents or characteristics: some are extroverted, and some are introverted; some are more logical and some are more emotional; some are more aggressive and some are more passive; some are athletic and some are musical; they have a bent towards good and a bent towards evil due to sin Therefore, we could paraphrase Proverbs 22:6 this way; “Adapt the training of your child so that it is in keeping with his or her God given characteristics and tendencies and individual bents; when he or she comes to maturity he or she will not depart from the training he or she has received” (From Charles R. Swindoll, You And Your Child, p. 15.)
- Second, the Hebrew word used here for child is [לַ֭נַּעַר, ma-ar] and this Hebrew word can refer to any age child who is living under your roof.
- Third, the Hebrew word translated here as “old” is [זָקָן, yazqin], which “refers to when hair begins to grow on the chin.” In this case, adolescence.
- Old” does not refer to a 90-year-old man, but to a teenager. Again, is this a promise from God that should come true? Adam & Eve initially had 2 sons: Cain and Abel. Cain murdered his brother out of jealousy. God had accepted Abel’s offering but not Cain’s. Isaac had 2 twin sons named Esau and Jacob. Esau was a “daddy’s boy” because he loved to hunt and then prepare his hunt for his father. Jacob was what we call a “momma’s boy.” Jacob stole his brother, Esau’s birthright. So, when we go to Scripture we can see that this “promise” did not happen in these parents and the Bible tells us why?Some scholars put it this way: “Train a child in a manner befitting a child.” In other words, one should train a child using vocabulary, concepts, and illustrations a child can understand. It does not mean that instruction should be tailor-made for each individual child (however valid that concept may be) but that one should begin instructing a child in elementary principles of right and wrong as soon as possible. Meaning our instruction as parents should be on the level of the child’s understanding. Parents should train their children with terms and expressions as if they were the same age as their child.
- The phrase “ . . . and when he is old, he will not depart from it “ in Hebrew can refer to when they are ready to leave the nest, there may be some straying, wandering away initially, but it implies that the hope later in their life is they will have a tendency to return to the teaching of their childhood. The English translation gives the impression that this is a promise. It is not. It is simply a proverb. God does not hold a parent responsible for the moral choices or sins their children make. God holds the child responsible. Provers 2:11-15 tells us that not all children grow up to be godly. And Proverbs 5:11-14 tells us there may come a time if the child rebels, hopefully, will come to his or her senses and repent. We only get a few years with our children and we should seize upon the God-given opportunity that this is to train or dedicate them to the Lord. When we are in the midst of raising, discipling, juggling their schedules, it might seem it will never end. This is why we must be persistent to endure and help them finish their own race that is set before them (Hebrews 12:1-3). We only get a few years to shape our children’s lives for Christ.
Today, it seems most parents, even Christian parents, are more about getting their kids into the best school, the best sports and later the best jobs. These are temporary. Our children have an eternal destiny with God and getting them ready for that should be most important. New Testament scholars Kent Hughes and Raymond Ortlund write this:
“It means to accustom a child to a taste and to motivate the child to take it in. And the best way for you to influence your child in that way is for you to be a dedicated Christian yourself. Children sense hypocrisy immediately. But they also know sincerity. If you want your children to be passionate for Christ, let them see that passion in you. You dedicate your child to Christ by dedicating yourself to Christ so enthusiastically that your child tastes how good it is and wants more” (Source: Kent Hughes & Raymond Ortlund, Preach The Word, “Proverbs—Wisdom that Works,” p. 154).
Reflection Assignment: How did your parents raise, teach, and discipline your siblings and you? How have you raised your own children in these areas? Would your children say you are passionate for Christ? I didn’t say, “for attending church,” but passionate for Christ. If you have failed in this area, what do you need to do to change now so that you can still influence your children in the future?
Scripture To Meditate On: Isaiah 54:13, “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children” (ESV).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, give me the wisdom to parent each of my children according to Your Word based on their bents, their characteristics, their tendencies, their personality and in terms they can understand. I do not want to do anything that would cause my children to wander from their relationship to Jesus Christ. Thank you and in Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly