'Instruction' in the Bible

“Now this is the command; the statutes and the judgments (precepts) which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you might do (follow, obey) them in the land which you are crossing over [the Jordan] to possess,

Therefore, you shall keep (follow, obey) the commandment and the statutes and judgments (precepts) which I am commanding you today.

Know this day that I am not speaking to your children who have not known [by personal experience] and who have not seen [firsthand] the instruction and discipline of the Lord your God—His greatness, His mighty hand and His outstretched arm;

For you are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem in accordance with the Law of your God, which is in your hand,

On the second day, all of the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, were gathered before Ezra the scribe to gain insight into the words of the Law (divine instruction).

“Please receive the law and instruction from His mouthAnd establish His words in your heart and keep them.

Then He opens the ears of menAnd seals their instruction,

“He opens their ears to instruction and discipline,And commands that they return from evil.

Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear [to my instruction]:Forget your people and your father’s house;

“For you hate instruction and disciplineAnd cast My words behind you [discarding them].

I will open my mouth in a parable [to instruct using examples];I will utter dark and puzzling sayings of old [that contain important truth]—

To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction;To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,

To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness,Righteousness, justice, and integrity;

The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence];But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.

My son, hear the instruction of your father,And do not reject the teaching of your mother.

Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.

Take hold of instruction; [actively seek it, grip it firmly and] do not let go.Guard her, for she is your life.

And you say, “How I hated instruction and discipline,And my heart despised correction and reproof!

He will die for lack of instruction (discipline),And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray and be lost.

“Take my instruction rather than [seeking] silver,And take knowledge rather than choicest gold,

“Heed (pay attention to) instruction and be wise,And do not ignore or neglect it.

Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser;Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing],But he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin].

Whoever loves instruction and discipline loves knowledge,But he who hates reproof and correction is stupid.

A wise son heeds and accepts [and is the result of] his father’s discipline and instruction,But a scoffer does not listen to reprimand and does not learn from his errors.

Poverty and shame will come to him who refuses instruction and discipline,But he who accepts and learns from reproof or censure is honored.

A [flippant, arrogant] fool rejects his father’s instruction and correction,But he who [is willing to learn and] regards and keeps in mind a reprimand acquires good sense.

He who neglects and ignores instruction and discipline despises himself,But he who learns from rebuke acquires understanding [and grows in wisdom].

The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the instruction for wisdom [its starting point and its essence];And before honor comes humility.

Understanding (spiritual insight) is a [refreshing and boundless] wellspring of life to those who have it,But to give instruction and correction to fools is foolishness.

Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction,That you may be wise in the time to come.

Cease listening, my son, to instruction and disciplineAnd you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Apply your heart to disciplineAnd your ears to words of knowledge.

Buy truth, and do not sell it;Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

When I saw, I considered it well;I looked and received instruction.

She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom,And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction].

And many peoples shall come and say,“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,To the house (temple) of the God of Jacob;That He may teach us His waysAnd that we may walk in His paths.”For the law will go out from ZionAnd the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

“As often as it passes through, it will seize you;For morning after morning it will pass through, by day and by night,And it will be sheer terror to understand what it means.”

“Those who err in mind will know the truth,And those who criticize and murmur discontentedly will accept instruction.

For this is a rebellious people, lying sons,Sons who refuse to listen toThe law and instruction of the Lord;

With whom did He consult and who enlightened Him?Who taught Him the path of justice and taught Him knowledgeAnd informed Him of the way of understanding?

The Lord was pleased for His righteousness’ sakeTo make the law great and prove to be glorious.

“Listen to Me, you who know righteousness (right standing with God),The people in whose heart is My law and instruction;Do not fear the reproach and taunting of man,Nor be distressed at their reviling.

O Lord, do not Your eyes look for truth?You [have seen their faithless heart and] have stricken them,But they did not weaken;You have consumed them,But they refused to take correction or instruction.They have made their faces harder than rock;They have refused to repent and return to You.

You shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God or accept correction and warning; truth and faithfulness have perished and have completely vanished from their mouths.

But they are altogether irrational and stupid and foolishIn their discipline of delusion—their idol is [only] wood [it is ridiculous, empty and worthless]!

Yet they would not listen and obey and control their behavior; but they were stiff-necked in order not to hear and take instruction.

They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them repeatedly, yet they would not listen and receive instruction.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words and honoring them?” says the Lord.

Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be heaped on rumor; they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law and guidance will be lost from the priest and [wise] counsel [will cease] from the elders.

She did not listen and heed the voice [of God];She accepted no correction.She did not trust in the Lord [but trusted her own power];She did not draw near to her God [but to the pagan gods of Baal or Molech].

“I said, ‘Most certainly you will [reverently] fear Me;Accept correction.’So Jerusalem’s dwelling will not be cut offIn accordance with all that I have appointed concerning her [punishment],But they were eager [even rising early] to make all their deeds corrupt.

For the lips of the priest should guard and preserve knowledge [of My law], and the people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

But as for you [priests], you have turned from the way and you have caused many to stumble by your instruction [in the law]. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts.