The Bible verse Proverbs 22:6 states “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This verse is often interpreted to mean that if parents raise their children in a godly way, instilling biblical values, then their children will grow up to be godly adults who follow the Lord. However, experience shows that this is not always the case – some children raised in Christian homes still choose to rebel and walk away from their faith. So what does the Bible really promise about how godly parenting affects children?
When examining this topic, it’s important to first understand the genre and context of the book of Proverbs. Proverbs contains wisdom sayings and principles, not categorical promises or prophecies. The sayings are generally true but not ironclad guarantees. They present wise guidelines for living, but individual circumstances and choices can lead to different outcomes. Proverbs 22:6 offers wise parental advice but is not an unconditional covenant guaranteeing outcomes regardless of other factors.
Additionally, Proverbs 22:6 does not promise that children will be perfect or that they will never stray from godly training. Its focus is on the parental responsibility to “train up a child in the way he should go.” The verse assumes parental instruction in righteousness will deeply shape the child’s path, values and probabilities for life. But it does not promise the child will perfectly adhere to that training. It states that even in old age the child will not “depart from it,” meaning they will not completely abandon the moral foundation laid during their upbringing. But some temporary rebellion or wandering from that training is certainly possible over the course of a lifetime.
The Bible consistently shows that every person has free will to choose their own spiritual path. Biblical figures like Adam, Miriam, Solomon and the prodigal son all illustrate that godly upbringing does not predetermine a child’s life choices. Many of Jesus’ original twelve disciples had zealous religious training, yet one still betrayed Jesus. The other disciples temporarily deserted Jesus after his arrest but later returned to faith. Their religious training exerted great influence but did not irresistibly determine their actions.
While acknowledging the lack of an ironclad guarantee, the Bible still clearly connects godly parental training with a much greater likelihood of children maturing with faith and virtue. Wise and loving instruction of children in God’s ways better prepares them to keep following that path for life (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Ephesians 6:4). Teaching respect for God and parents, love for others, integrity, self-control and wisdom from a young age provides a solid foundation for spiritual growth. Continued prayer, modeling, relationship investment and faithful mentoring throughout childhood significantly increase the chances children hold to their faith as adults.
In summary, Proverbs 22:6 does promise faithful parental training will deeply shape a child’s life for the better. It does not promise perfect outcomes. The Bible shows that while parental influence is extremely meaningful, it does not completely override a child’s responsibility for their own choices and faith commitment. But children still stand a much greater chance of lifelong faithfulness when parents intentionally train them in godly truth and virtue from childhood onward.
1. The genre and context of Proverbs
Proverbs is a book of wisdom sayings, not legal pronouncements or prophetic predictions. The sayings present general truths and beneficial principles, not unconditional promises. Proverbs 22:6 gives wise parental advice, but does not guarantee perfect outcomes regardless of a child’s choices.
Proverbs teaches prudent insights for living, while allowing that individual circumstances may lead to exceptions. Proverbs 15:25 says, “The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow’s boundaries.” This is generally true, but there are certainly exceptions where proud people prosper and widows suffer loss.
Likewise, Proverbs 22:6 presents a dependable principle, not an ironclad guarantee. It’s focused on promoting parental faithfulness in training children, not on eliminating a child’s responsibility for their choices. This proverb should not be interpreted as promising that godly parenting will irresistibly produce godly children under any circumstance or regardless of the children’s will.
2. Proverbs 22:6 does not promise perfection from children
Proverbs 22:6 does not promise that children with godly training will be perfectly righteous. Its focus is on the parental duty to “train up a child in the way he should go.” But it does not promise the child will flawlessly adhere to that training without fail. Biblical examples clearly show that a godly childhood does not make sinful choices impossible.
For instance, Joseph received exceptional spiritual training from his father Jacob yet was still sold into slavery by his jealous brothers (Genesis 37). Samuel likely trained his sons well, but they still disqualified themselves from leadership by taking bribes (1 Samuel 8:3). Hezekiah was considered one of Judah’s most righteous kings, yet his son Manasseh went on to practice evil and idolatry (2 Kings 21:1-9).
A proverb expresses a general truth, not a universal constant. Children are not morally programmed robots. They still have free will to make choices that contradict their upbringing. But wise training imparts values and perspectives that influence their choices to keep following God’s ways. The proverb maintains that while not guaranteed, this outcome is far more likely with faithful parenting.
3. The emphasis is on parental training, not perfectly preventing rebellion
A key purpose of Proverbs 22:6 is encouraging parents to fulfill their responsibility before God to initiate the spiritual training of children. It presents the general truth that when parents faithfully teach and model God’s ways, the child is far more likely to keep following those ways. Conversely, parental neglect often leads children away from God’s path.
The proverb is less focused on totally eliminating any rebellion or wandering from training. No biblical text teaches that godly parenting will irresistibly prevent a child from ever making unwise choices or temporarily straying from faith. Instead Proverbs 22:6 teaches that such parenting deeply shapes a child’s life path in a godly direction. Though detours or mistakes are possible, the child is far more likely guided back toward a faithful life.
The proverb expresses that while children have responsibility for personal choices, the parental foundation laid through godly training exerts a profoundly positive effect. The outcomes are not uniform, but the wise advice remains true. Overall, faithful parenting greatly increases the likelihood that children will mature embracing biblical values.
4. “Even when old” refers to lifelong influence
Some interpret the phrase “even when old he will not depart from it” in Proverbs 22:6 to mean that at no time in life will a child reject godly training. But other biblical examples make clear that rebellion is possible for a season, though training often draws the child back. This phrase more likely convey’s that during a lifetime, even into old age, such early training will exert positive influence. The NLT translation conveys this well: “Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.”
Wise parental training, prayer and continued relationship investment don’t guarantee perfect outcomes during every season of a child’s life. But they significantly increase the likelihood that over a lifetime, children will choose faith and virtue rather than rebellion. The moral foundation built during childhood remains steadying ballast even during seasons of wandering and keeps drawing them back to God’s ways.
5. Every person chooses their spiritual path
From Genesis through Revelation, the Bible shows that every person must take responsibility for their spiritual choices. Godly influences are tremendously beneficial, but don’t eliminate one’s obligation to decide for themselves. Even with the best upbringing, each child must embrace faith and obedience to God’s truth for themselves.
Adam and Eve were directly fashioned by God and lived in paradise, yet chose to rebel. Miriam was raised by godly parents and led Israel in songs of praise, yet temporarily rebelled against Moses (Numbers 12). Solomon had the righeous example and mentorship of his father David, yet allowed his wives to turn his heart toward idols (1 Kings 11:3-4).
One of Jesus’ original disciples, Judas Iscariot, walked intimately with Jesus for years. But he betrayed Jesus in the end, while the other 11 disciples chose continued faithfulness after initially scattering at Jesus’ arrest. Every person, regardless of upbringing, must embrace salvation and lifelong obedience to Christ individually.
6. Parental influence offers no guarantees
Nowhere does the Bible teach that godly parenting guarantees perfect results. Biblical parents like Hannah, David, Josiah and Lois and Eunice put great effort into teaching their children about the Lord. But they could not force their obedience. Each child had to voluntarily receive and respond to that spiritual training.
In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, the father could not prevent the younger son from leaving and wasting his inheritance in wild living (Luke 15:11-32). The father’s righteous influence was unable to keep the son from rebellion. But once the son hit bottom and “came to his senses,” remembering his father’s love, he decided for himself to return home. We must interpret Proverbs 22:6 through this filter – that each person chooses their own path, but early influence makes a more righteous choice far more likely.
7. Biblical influence still deeply impacts lives
Though not imparting perfection or eliminating free will, the Bible still emphasizes that godly parental influence from childhood exerts immensely positive impact. Scripture encourages parents to impress God’s truth and ways upon children from an early age.
Moses told the Israelites, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Paul wrote that raising children in “the training and instruction of the Lord” helps guard them from deception (Ephesians 6:4). Proper nurture and admonition makes it far more likely that a child matures embracing faith and virtue.
Though it cannot prevent wrong choices, Scripture recognizes that righteous training develops character and values that steer a child towards wise choices. It instills an inner compass inclined toward godliness. When combined with prayer, relationship investment and gracious discipline, biblical training significantly increases the likelihood of children maturing with enduring faith.
8. Examples where training exerted lifelong influence
Despite lacking ironclad guarantees, the Bible contains many examples where godly parental influence yielded lifelong fruit. Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord even before his birth and brought him to serve at the temple (1 Samuel 1). Samuel grew up to lead Israel as the last judge and first prophet.
Timothy embraced saving faith as a child through the influence of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15). Their faithful teaching prepared him to become Paul’s protégé in gospel ministry. Obadiah feared the Lord from youth and as an adult protected 100 prophets from Jezebel’s persecution (1 Kings 18:3-4). Joseph, Daniel and his three friends also illustrate those whose early training bore lifelong fruit.
In the New Testament, the parent Philip had four daughters who grew up to be prophetesses and influential in the early church (Acts 21:9). While exceptions exist, these positive examples remind us that godly nurture from childhood often yields enduring faithfulness.
9. Wise parenting is still vital
Despite understanding that godly parenting does not guarantee perfect outcomes, the Bible still emphasizes its vital importance. Faithful instruction and discipline, lived-out modeling and investment in relationship with children profoundly aid their spiritual growth. Proverbs 22:6 may not promise irresistible results, but the wise parenting it recommends is still urgently needed.
Children are far more likely to mature following God’s ways when parents live out Deuteronomy 6 – instructing them in God’s words, talking of his truth everywhere, and modeling obedience and worship in everyday life. Though outcomes vary, neglecting such guidance greatly increases a child’s vulnerability to deception and ungodly influence. God calls parents to diligent commitment in training children His ways. The fruits may be varied, but faithful parenting is never wasted.
10. God’s faithfulness persists despite imperfect outcomes
A final comfort for parents who sought to raise children in God’s ways is that His promises remain true despite imperfect outcomes. When children choose to rebel or neglect training, God’s purpose and faithfulness endure from generation to generation. The shortcomings of one generation do not prevent God from drawing the next back to Himself.
Manasseh arose as an idolatrous king after his father Hezekiah’s righteous influence. But Hezekiah prayed that God’s promised faithfulness to Israel would continue despite his son’s failures (2 Kings 20:19). Later Manasseh’s grandson Josiah reinstituted reforms (2 Kings 22:2). Biblical history reveals that often the grandson walked faithfully when the son did not. God’s mercy endures!
For parents facing the pain of a child’s rebellion, the door always remains open for their return. The father in Jesus’ parable watched expectantly until he saw his prodigal son “a long way off” and ran to embrace and restore him. God remains fully able to draw even the most prodigal back to Himself. His purposes ultimately prevail.