What Does Proverbs 22:6 Mean?
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
What It Means
Proverbs 22:6 is a gentle encouragement for parents to guide their kids from early on in a direction that fits who they are-teaching values, habits, and faith in practical, everyday ways. The promise is that those early lessons tend to stay rooted, so even as adults they won't easily wander far from that foundation.
It matters because the small, consistent choices you make with children today-like honest conversations at dinner or modeling kindness-build a lifelong compass that brings stability and direction later on.
More Verses from Proverbs
Explore more verse meanings, or search Bible questions & answers.