Pro 4:3-4 | NETfull | STEP | When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother,

Proverbs 4:3-4

3 When I was a son to my father, ^{▼▼ Or “a boy with my father.”}
a tender only child ^{▼▼ The LXX introduces the ideas of “obedient” and “beloved” for these two terms. This seems to be a free rendering, if not a translation of a different Hebrew textual tradition. The MT makes good sense and requires no emendation.} ^{▼▼ Heb “tender and only one.” The phrase רַךְ וְיָחִיד (rakh v^eyakhid, “tender and only one”) is a hendiadys meaning “tender only child.” The adjective רַךְ (rakh) means “tender; delicate” (BDB 940 s.v. רַךְ), and describes a lad who is young and undeveloped in character (e.g., 2 Sam 3:39). The adjective יָחִיד (yakhid) means “only one” (BDB 402 s.v. יָחִיד) and refers to a beloved and prized only child (e.g., Gen 22:2).} before my mother,
4 he taught me, and he said to me:
“Let your heart lay hold of my words;
keep my commands so that ^{▼▼ The imperative with the vav expresses volitional sequence after the preceding imperative: “keep and then you will live,” meaning “keep so that you may live.”} you will live.