My son
This phrase is a common address in the book of Proverbs, reflecting the intimate and personal nature of the wisdom being imparted. The Hebrew word for "son" is "בֵּן" (ben), which not only refers to a biological child but also to a student or disciple. This indicates a relationship of mentorship and guidance, emphasizing the importance of passing down wisdom from one generation to the next. In a broader sense, it can be seen as God addressing His children, urging them to heed His counsel.

if sinners entice you
The word "sinners" in Hebrew is "חַטָּאִים" (chatta'im), which refers to those who miss the mark of God's standards. The term "entice" comes from the Hebrew "פָּתָה" (pathah), meaning to persuade or seduce. This phrase warns of the seductive nature of sin and the reality that temptation often comes from those who have already strayed from righteousness. Historically, this reflects the constant struggle of the Israelites to remain faithful amidst surrounding pagan influences. The warning is timeless, reminding believers to be vigilant against the allure of sin.

do not yield to them
The instruction here is clear and direct. The Hebrew word for "yield" is "אָבָה" (abah), which means to consent or agree. This command is a call to resist and stand firm against the pressure to conform to sinful behavior. It underscores the importance of personal integrity and the strength of character required to uphold God's standards. In the broader scriptural context, this echoes the New Testament teachings of resisting the devil and standing firm in faith (James 4:7). It serves as an encouragement to believers to remain steadfast and not compromise their values, even when faced with enticing temptations.

(10) If sinners entice thee.--A warning against taking part in brigandage, a crime to which Palestine was at all times peculiarly exposed, from the wild character of its formation, and from its neighbourhood to predatory tribes, who would invade the country whenever the weakness of the government gave them an opening. The insecurity to life and property thus occasioned would provide a tempting opportunity for the wilder spirits of the community to seek a livelihood by plunder.

Verse 10. - My son, if sinners entice thee. (As to the form of address, see ver. 8.) It is here used because the writer is passing to a warning against bad company, and hence the term is emphatic, and intended to call especial attention to what is said. It is repeated again in ver. 15, at a further stage in this address, with the same view. Sinners; חַטָּאִים (khattaim), the plural of חַטָּא (khatta), from the root חָטָּא (khata), properly "to miss the mark, to err;" cf. Greek, ἀμαρτάνω, "to sin" (Gesenius), here equivalent to "habitual, abandoned sinners," and those especially who make robbery and bloodshed a profession. Not simply peccantes, i.e. sinners as a generic designation of the human race, for "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), but peccatores (Chaldee, Syriac, Pagin., Tigur., Versions and Vulgate). "sinners," i.e. those who sin habitually, knowingly, wilfully, and maliciously (Gejerus), or those who give themselves up to iniquity, and persuade others to follow their example (Cartwright). In the New Testament they are styled ἀμαρτωλοὶ. They are those of whom David speaks in strikingly parallel language in Psalm 26:9, "Gather not my soul with sinners (khattaim), nor my life with bloody men" (cf. Psalm 1:1). The LXX. has ἄνδρες ἀσεβεῖς (i.e. ungodly, unholy men). Entice thee; 'יְפַתּוּך (y'phattukha); the piel form, פִתָּה (pitah), of the kal פָתָּה (patah), "to open," and hence to make accessible to persuasion, akin to the Greek πειθεῖν, "to persuade." The noun פְּתִי (p'thi), is "one easily enticed or persuaded" (Gesenius). The LXX. reads μὴ πλανήσωσιν, "let them not lead thee astray." The idea is expressed in the Vulgate by lactaverint; i.e. "if sinners allure or deceive thee with fair words." The Syriac, Montan., Jun. et Tremell., Versions read pellexerint, from pellicio, "to entice." Consent thou not. (אַלאּתֹּבֵא, al-tove א). The Masoretic text here has been emended by Kennicott and De Rossi, who, on the joint authority of fifty-eight manuscripts, maintain that תֹּבֵא (tove א) should be written תּלֺאבֵא (tosves). Others read תָּבלֺא (tavos), i.e. "thou shalt not go," which, though good sense, is incorrect. אַלאּ (al) is the adverb of negation, i.q. μὴ, ne. The Hebrew תֹּבֵא (toves) is derived from אָבָה (avah). "to agree to, to be willing" (Gesenius, Delitzsch), the preformative א being omitted, and is accurately rendered by the LXX., μὴ βουληθῇς, and the Vulgate, ne acquiescas. The warning is especially brief and striking. The only answer to all enticements of evil is a decided negative (Plumptre). Compare St. Paul's advice to the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them").

Parallel Commentaries ...


My son,
בְּנִ֡י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

sinners
חַ֝טָּאִ֗ים (ḥaṭ·ṭā·’îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2400: A criminal, one accounted guilty

entice you,
יְפַתּ֥וּךָ (yə·p̄at·tū·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6601: To open, be, roomy, to be, simple, delude

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

yield [to them].
תֹּבֵֽא׃ (tō·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 14: To breathe after, to be acquiescent


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 1:10 My son if sinners entice you don't (Prov. Pro Pr)