Proverbs 4:3 (DBY)

Passage

For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know intelligence;

Proverbs 4:2 for I give you good doctrine: forsake ye not my law.

Proverbs 4:3 For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother.

Proverbs 4:4 And he taught me, and said unto me, Let thy heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live.

Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get intelligence: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "father", "tender", "only", "sight", and "mother". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "father" and "tender", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "for I give you good doctrine forsake..." into verse 4's "And he taught me and said unto...", so "father" and "tender" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "father" and "tender" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.