CheckTheWord Does the Bible actually say that?

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go.

The claim

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Bible verse, stretched meaning

Proverbs 22:6 is a real proverb. Proverbs are observed patterns, not a contract that every child of Christian parents will believe.

The text

WEB

6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

KJV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

What kind of text

A wisdom sentence about formation, set among other sayings about the poor, the borrower, and the king.

How Christians have read this

Historic pastoral reading

Training matters. Proverbs do not cancel later rebellion or guarantee an outcome.

Common misuse

Used to blame parents when an adult child walks away, or to promise results.

What the next verse does

Verse 7 speaks of the rich ruling the poor and the borrower as servant to the lender.

Older commentary

Matthew Henry

Henry on Proverbs 22:6: train a child; the proverb states a pattern, not a mechanical contract.

Charles Spurgeon

Spurgeon honored family training and still knew adult children can wander.