Proverbs 4:3 (YLT)

Passage

For, a son I have been to my father--tender, And an only one before my mother.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.

Proverbs 4:2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.

Proverbs 4:3 For, a son I have been to my father--tender, And an only one before my mother.

Proverbs 4:4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.

Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "For good learning I have given to..." into verse 4's "And he directeth me and he saith...", so "been" and "father--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 "been" and "father--tender" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.