translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: PRO

label: NET study note

text: Those who wish to improve themselves must learn to accept correction; the fool hates/rejects any correction.


text: The word בָּעַר ( ba ’ ar , “brutish; stupid”) normally describes dumb animals that lack intellectual sense. Here, it describes the moral fool who is not willing to learn from correction. He is like a dumb animal (so the term here functions as a hypocatastasis: implied comparison).


text: The metaphor of the “crown” emphasizes that such a wife is a symbol of honor and glory.


text: The simile means that the shameful acts of such a woman will eat away her husband’s strength and influence and destroy his happiness.


text: The plans of good people are directed toward what is right. Advice from the wicked, however, is deceitful and can only lead to trouble.


text: This proverb is about the stability of the righteous in times of trouble. The term “overthrown” might allude to Gen 19:21 .


text: In the biblical period agriculture was the most common occupation for the people; so “working a field” describes a substantial occupation, but also represents working in general. Diligent work, not get-rich-quick schemes, is the key to ensuring income.


text: J. H. Greenstone suggests that when the wicked become involved in contradictions of testimony, the innocent is freed from the trouble. Another meaning would be that the wicked get themselves trapped by what they say, but the righteous avoid that ( Proverbs , 131).


text: The way of a fool describes a headlong course of actions (“way” is an idiom for conduct) that is not abandoned even when wise advice is offered.


text: The fool believes that his own plans and ideas are perfect or “right” ( יָשָׁר , yashar ); he is satisfied with his own opinion.


text: Healing is a metonymy of effect. Healing words are the opposite of the cutting, irresponsible words. What the wise say is faithful and true, gentle and kind, uplifting and encouraging; so their words bring healing.


text: The contrast here is between “evil” (= pain and calamity) and “peace” (= social wholeness and well-being); see, e.g., Pss 34:14 and 37:37 .


text: The contrast between “delight/pleasure” and “abomination” is emphatic. What pleases the Lord is acting truthfully or faithfully.


text: The term כֹּסֶה ( koseh , “covers; hides”) does not mean that he never shares his knowledge, but discerns when it is and is not appropriate to speak.


text: The noun אִוֶּלֶת (’ ivvelet , “foolishness; folly”) is the antithesis of perception and understanding. It is related to the noun אֱוִּיל (’ evvil , “fool”), one who is morally bad because he despises wisdom and discipline, mocks at guilt, is licentious and quarrelsome, and is almost impossible to rebuke.