Proverbs 4:4

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Cross-reference

In Proverbs 4:11, the same father continues teaching the way of wisdom, directly building on the command to keep his words.

In Proverbs 4:22, the words are called 'life to those who find them' — a clear restatement of the life promised for keeping commandments.

Proverbs 22:6 Related theme

Proverbs 22:6 echoes the same principle of training a child and retaining teaching, reinforcing the father's instruction here.

In Proverbs 3:1, the same fatherly call to keep commands in the heart reinforces this charge to treasure and obey.

In Proverbs 7:2, 'keep my commands and you will live' repeats the same life-giving promise, reinforcing this fatherly charge.

In Proverbs 6:23, the commandment is a lamp and reproofs the way to life — reinforcing the same connection between instruction and life.

In Proverbs 10:17, heeding instruction leads to the path of life — another proverb affirming the principle taught here.

Proverbs 22:17 echoes the call to hear and apply wise words, stressing the same active reception of instruction.

In Proverbs 19:8, getting wisdom is equated with loving one's own soul, reinforcing the value of retaining wisdom commanded here.

John 12:50 Parallel

In John 12:50, Jesus declares his commandment gives eternal life, directly paralleling the promise of life for keeping the father's commands.

In Deuteronomy 6:6, God's commands being on your heart directly parallels taking hold of words with all your heart.

1 Chronicles 22:11-13 records David's charge to Solomon to keep the law and prosper — a direct parallel to the father's instruction here.

In 1 Chronicles 28:9, David similarly charges Solomon to serve God with wholehearted devotion, echoing this father-son instruction.

In Psalm 119:11, hiding God's word in the heart mirrors the command to take hold of words with all your heart.

2 Timothy 1:13 commands holding fast to sound teaching, directly paralleling the call to retain my words in Proverbs.

Psalm 37:31 Parallel

In Psalm 37:31, having God's law in the heart leads to secure steps — similar to the promise of life from keeping commandments in heart.

Job 22:22 Parallel

In Job 22:22, the exhortation to 'receive instruction... lay up his words in your heart' mirrors the father's charge to hold fast his words.

John 15:7 Parallel

John 15:7 promises answered prayer when Christ's words abide in believers, similar to retaining commandments for life.

In Ephesians 6:4, Paul instructs fathers to bring up children in the Lord's discipline, reflecting the same parental duty to teach God's commands.

In 2 Timothy 3:15, Timothy's childhood knowledge of Scripture parallels the son being taught to hold his father's words for life.

In Genesis 18:19, God says Abraham will command his children to keep the way of the Lord — parallel to this father's charge to keep commandments.

Hebrews 5:9 Parallel

In Hebrews 5:9, Christ becomes the source of eternal salvation for those who obey him — a NT counterpart to the obedience-life principle.

In 2 Timothy 1:5, Timothy's faith passed down from his grandmother and mother illustrates the generational transmission of teaching seen here.

Isaiah 55:3 Parallel

In Isaiah 55:3, the call to 'hear that your soul may live' echoes the same link between heeding God's words and receiving life.

In Deuteronomy 4:9, Moses commands teaching children to remember God's works, extending the generational duty to pass on instruction.