What does Proverbs 22:6 mean?

This is among the most quoted proverbs in the Bible. Here, Solomon (Proverbs 10:1) offers sound advice for parents. When a child is raised with the right values, and the right perspective, those lessons will last a lifetime (Ephesians 6:4). The literal wording here implies that the rightly trained child will not deviate from this path. Of course, Solomon's proverbial counsel is not an iron-clad promise. Despite the direction in which godly parents point their child, he or she may choose to pursue the way of the crooked mentioned in verse 5. Yet a foundation of godliness gives the child something positive to "fall back on" when they come to their senses (Luke 15:16–20).

Hebrew wording here implies the idea of "dedicating" a child to God; the implication is that the child is being purposefully directed towards the Lord and His wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).

Godly parents can only do their best to direct the steps of their children. They can trust that instructing their children about God and modeling what it looks like to have a relationship with God will most likely persuade each child to believe on the Lord and obey Him. If it does not, then those experiences will help to convict and change a stubborn heart later in life.

Timothy had this kind of child rearing. He was taught the Scriptures when he was a young child (2 Timothy 3:15).