▼ Heb “my son.”

▼ Verses 1–11 form one long conditional sentence in the Hebrew text: (1) the protasis (“if…”) encompasses vv. 1–4 and (2) the apodosis (“then…”) consists of two parallel panels in vv. 5–8 and vv. 9–11 both of which are introduced by the particle אָז (’az, “then”).

▼ The verb “to store up” (צָפַן, tsafan; cf. NAB, NLT “treasure”) in the second colon qualifies the term “receive” (לָקַח, laqakh) in the first, just as “commands” intensifies “words.” This pattern of intensification through parallelism occurs throughout the next three verses. The verb “to store up; to treasure” is used in reference to things of value for future use, e.g., wealth, dowry for a bride. Since proverbs will be useful throughout life and not always immediately applicable, the idea of storing up the sayings is fitting. They will form the way people think which in turn will influence attitudes (W. G. Plaut, Proverbs, 43).