Proverbs 22:6

Eternal Security, Not Infant Baptism

Dedicate a child on the mouth of the way; also when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

This short note shows that God teaches eternal security in Proverbs 22:6. Nothing in this verse actually supports infant baptism. In order to understand Proverbs 22:6,  we must first examine the context briefly. 

The Way of the Perverse

Proverbs 22 opens with God describing the value of the good grace name. ¹God used the phrase “good” (“טֽוֹב”) grace” (“חֵ֣ן”) to describe the choosing (“נִבְחָ֣ר”–Niphal participle, masculine singular) name (“שֵׁ֭ם”). In other words, we must be concerned with choosing a name associated with good grace. We make choices about the name we wear in life. In passing, God could also mean that we choose His “Name,” because He is good grace as reflected by His Name.  The good grace name exceeds the value of silver and gold (Proverbs 22:1). The good grace name means that you recognize that Yahweh made both the rich and poor and so they share a common bond (Proverbs 22:2). The good grace name also means your prudence allows you to see evil and hide yourself, while the naive go on and suffer punishment (Proverbs 22:3). Because the good grace name lives in humility with the fear of Yahweh, the good grace name will be rewarded with riches, honor and life (Proverbs 22:4). In contrast, the way of the perverse has thorns and snares (Proverbs 22:5). 

The Mouth of the Way

Parents have a duty to keep their children away from the “Way of the Perverse.” They must dedicate their children in the “mouth of the way.” ²God used the Hebrew term “mouth” (פִּ֣י) to describe the way. This term “mouth” includes a literal mouth or a symbolic opening of an item. For examples, see the “mouth” of the sacks of grain (Genesis 44:2; mouth of the well (Genesis 29:3). Because God used the term “mouth” to describe the way, He meant the child is already on the way, because the child is in the mouth of the way. The mouth describes a part of the way, not something apart from the way. So, on what way is the child going? The answer lies in the context and the fact that the parents dedicate the child to that way. Therefore, that way must be way of the good grace name. Parents should not train their children to follow the way of the perverse, but the way of the good grace name.

Please notice that the children to be trained in Proverbs 22:6 are already in the mouth of the way of the good grace name. Therefore, they are already in the way of God and only need further training in the way of God. The training does not bring them into the way of the good grace name, because they have already entered the mouth of the way of the good grace name. Therefore, when they are old, they will not depart from the way of the good grace name. Please take notice that the verb “depart” also shows they were already on the way of the good grace name, because you do not depart from something you are not already on. ³The Hebrew term for “will depart” (“יָס֥וּר”–Qal imperfect, third masculine singular) means to leave (Exodus 8:11–frogs leaving house), remove (Genesis 38:19–king removed ring from finger) and go away ; and go away from evil (Proverbs 2:7–Fear Yahweh and depart from evil; see also Proverbs 4:24; 4:27; 5:7; 9:4; 9:16; 11:22; 13:14; 13:19; 14:16; 14:27; 15:24; 16:6; 16:17; 27:22; 28:9).

Conclusion

God described some youngsters as already on the way of the good grace name. He did not describe how they came to be on the way of the good grace name. Once on the way of the good grace name, they will not depart from it in old age. They may wander into sin in many ways while they walk on the way of the good grace name, but they will not depart from the way of the good grace name in their old age. Because this passage teaches eternal security and does not address the means of salvation, it does not support infant baptism in any way.