Pro 17:6 | KingComments | STEP | It is a man’s honor when he lives so long that he sees children and grandchildren each serving their own generation in the way God wants ( ; ; cf. ). When the generations appreciate and imitate each other in goodness, there is harmony. There is an emphasis on the responsibility of (grand)parents for their (grand)children. The next generation is reminded to look back to previous generations with respect. In what is said here, the ideal situation is presented. We know that the world is full of wayward parents and unruly children who cannot look back on a happy childhood. But for each new generation lies the challenge of breaking that trend. This verse is an incentive to work on that. Children can ensure that their children can think of them as Godly parents and their parents as Godly grandparents. The children will not be ashamed of their parents and grandparents, but rather testify gratefully that they have such a “glory”. This, in turn, may result in their children’s children walking in the way of the Lord. The line down from children and children’s children, the gender line down, is the crown of old age; the line up from parents and grandparents, the gender line up, is the glory of their children, or their descendants.

‏ Proverbs 17:6

Honor the Generations

It is a man’s honor when he lives so long that he sees children and grandchildren each serving their own generation in the way God wants (Psa 128:6; Gen 50:23; cf. Acts 13:36). When the generations appreciate and imitate each other in goodness, there is harmony. There is an emphasis on the responsibility of (grand)parents for their (grand)children. The next generation is reminded to look back to previous generations with respect.

In what is said here, the ideal situation is presented. We know that the world is full of wayward parents and unruly children who cannot look back on a happy childhood. But for each new generation lies the challenge of breaking that trend. This verse is an incentive to work on that.

Children can ensure that their children can think of them as Godly parents and their parents as Godly grandparents. The children will not be ashamed of their parents and grandparents, but rather testify gratefully that they have such a “glory”. This, in turn, may result in their children’s children walking in the way of the Lord. The line down from children and children’s children, the gender line down, is the crown of old age; the line up from parents and grandparents, the gender line up, is the glory of their children, or their descendants.