translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: PRO

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “wise ones of women.” The construct phrase חַכְמוֹת נָשִׁים ( khakhmot nashim ) features a wholistic genitive: “wise women.” The plural functions in a distributive sense: “every wise woman.” The contrast is between wise and foolish women (e.g., Prov 7:10-23; 31:10-31 ).


text: The perfect tense verb in the first colon functions in a gnomic sense, while the imperfect tense in the second colon is a habitual imperfect.


text: Heb “house.” This term functions as a synecdoche of container (= house) for contents (= household, family).


text: Heb “fear of the Lord .” The term יְהוָה ( yÿhvah , “the Lord ”) functions as an objective genitive.


text: Heb “crooked of ways”; NRSV “devious in conduct.” This construct phrase features a genitive of specification: “crooked in reference to his ways.” The term “ways” is an idiom for moral conduct. The evidence that people fear the Lord is uprightness; the evidence of those who despise him is the devious ways.


text: The preposition בְּ ( bet ) may denote (1) exchange: “in exchange for” foolish talk there is a rod; or (2) cause: “because of” foolish talk.


label: NET textual note

text: The MT reads גַּאֲוָה ( ga ’ avah , “pride”) which creates an awkward sense “in the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride” (cf. KJV, ASV). The BHS editors suggest emending the form to גֵּוֹה (“disciplining-rod”) to create tighter parallelism and irony: “in the mouth of a fool is a rod for the back” (e.g., Prov 10:13 ). What the fools says will bring discipline. tn Heb “a rod of back.” The noun גֵּוֹה functions as a genitive of specification: “a rod for his back.” The fool is punished because of what he says.


text: Heb “lips.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause, meaning what they say. The wise by their speech will find protection.


text: Heb “the strength of oxen.” The genitive שׁוֹר ( shor , “oxen”) functions as an attributed genitive: “strong oxen.” Strong oxen are indispensable for a good harvest, and for oxen to be strong they must be well-fed. The farmer has to balance grain consumption with the work oxen do.


text: Heb “a witness of faithfulness.” The genitive functions in an attributive sense: “faithful witness” (so KJV, NRSV); TEV “reliable witness.”


text: Heb “a witness of falsehood.” The genitive functions in an attributive sense: “false witness.”


text: Heb “and there is not.”


text: Heb “a man, a stupid fellow.”


text: Heb “and.” The vav ( ו ) that introduces this clause may be understood as meaning “or….”


text: The MT reads וּבַל־יָדַעְתָּ ( uval-yada ’ ta , “you did not know [the lips of knowledge]).” It must mean that one should leave the fool because he did not receive knowledge from what fools said. Tg . Prov 14:7 freely interprets the verse: “for there is no knowledge on his lips.” The LXX reflects a Hebrew Vorlage of וּכְלֵי־דַעַת ( ukhÿle-da ’ at , “[wise lips] are weapons of discretion”). The textual variant involves wrong word division and orthographic confusion between ב ( bet ) and כ ( kaf ). C. H. Toy emends the text: “for his lips do not utter knowledge” as in 15:7 ( Proverbs [ICC], 285). The MT is workable and more difficult.


text: Heb “lips of knowledge” (so KJV, ASV). “Lips” is the metonymy of cause, and “knowledge” is an objective genitive (speaking knowledge) or attributive genitive (knowledgeable speech): “wise counsel.”


text: Or “the prudent [person]” (cf. KJV, NASB, NIV).


text: The Hiphil infinitive construct denotes purpose. Those who are shrewd will use it to give careful consideration to all their ways.


text: The word means “deception,” but some suggest “self-deception” here (W. McKane, Proverbs [OTL], 466; and D. W. Thomas, “Textual and Philological Notes on Some Passages in the Book of Proverbs,” VTSup 3 [1955]: 286); cf. NLT “fools deceive themselves.” The parallelism would favor this, but there is little support for it. The word usually means “craft practiced on others.” If the line is saying the fool is deceitful, there is only a loose antithesis between the cola.


text: The noun “fools” is plural but the verb “mock” is singular. This has led some to reverse the line to say “guilty/guilt offering mocks fools” (C. H. Toy, Proverbs [ICC], 287); see, e.g., Isa 1:14 ; Amos 5:22 . But lack of agreement between subject and verb is not an insurmountable difficulty.


text: The LXX reads “houses of transgressors will owe purification.” Tg . Prov 14:9 has “guilt has its home among fools” (apparently reading לִין לוּן , lin lun ). tn Heb “guilt.” The word אָשָׁם (’ asham ) has a broad range of meanings: “guilt; reparation.” According to Leviticus, when someone realized he was guilty he would bring a “reparation offering,” a sin offering with an additional tribute for restitution ( Lev 5:1-6 ). It would be left up to the guilty to come forward; it was for the kind of thing that only he would know, for which his conscience would bother him. Fools mock any need or attempt to make things right, to make restitution (cf. NIV, NRSV, NCV, TEV).


text: The word רָצוֹן ( ratson ) means “favor; acceptance; pleasing.” It usually means what is pleasing or acceptable to God. In this passage it either means that the upright try to make amends, or that the upright find favor for doing so.


text: Heb “bitterness of its soul.”


text: Heb “stranger” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV).


text: The verb is the Hitpael of II עָרַב (’ arav ), which means “to take in pledge; to give in pledge; to exchange.” Here it means “to share [in].” The proverb is saying that there are joys and sorrows that cannot be shared. No one can truly understand the deepest feelings of another.


text: Heb “house.” The term “house” is a metonymy of subject, referring to their contents: families and family life. sn Personal integrity ensures domestic stability and prosperity, while lack of such integrity (= wickedness) will lead to the opposite.


text: The term “tent” is a metonymy here referring to the contents of the tent: families.


text: Heb “which is straight before a man.” sn The proverb recalls the ways of the adulterous woman in chapters 1-9 , and so the translation of “man” is retained. The first line does not say that the “way” that seems right is “vice,” but the second line clarifies that. The individual can rationalize all he wants, but the result is still the same. The proverb warns that any evil activity can take any number of ways (plural) to destruction.


text: Heb “the ways of death” (so KJV, ASV). This construct phrase features a genitive of destiny: “ways that lead to [or, end in] death.” Here death means ruin (e.g., Prov 7:27; 16:25 ). The LXX adds “Hades,” but the verse seems to be concerned with events of this life.


text: Heb “and its end, joy, is grief.” The suffix may be regarded as an Aramaism, a proleptic suffix referring to “joy.”


text: The phrase “may be” is not in the Hebrew but is supplied from the parallelism, which features an imperfect of possibility.


text: Heb “a turning away of heart.” The genitive לֵב ( lev , “heart”) functions as an attributive adjective: “a backslidden heart.” The term סוּג ( sug ) means “to move away; to move backwards; to depart; to backslide” (BDB 690 s.v. I סוּג ). This individual is the one who backslides, that is, who departs from the path of righteousness.


text: Heb “will be filled”; cf. KJV, ASV. The verb (“to be filled, to be satisfied”) here means “to be repaid,” that is, to partake in his own evil ways. His faithlessness will come back to haunt him.


text: The phrase “will be rewarded” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.


text: Heb “his step”; cf. TEV “sensible people watch their step.”


text: Heb “fears.” Since the holy name (Yahweh, translated “the Lord ”) is not used, it probably does not here mean fear of the Lord , but of the consequences of actions.


text: The Hitpael of עָבַר (’ avar , “to pass over”) means “to pass over the bounds of propriety; to act insolently” (BDB 720 s.v.; cf. ASV “beareth himself insolently”).


text: The verb בָּטַח here denotes self-assurance or overconfidence. Fools are not cautious and do not fear the consequences of their actions.


text: Heb “a man of devices.”


text: The LXX reads “endures” (from נָשָׂא , nasa ’) rather than “is hated” (from שָׂנֵא , sane ’). This change seems to have arisen on the assumption that a contrast was needed. It has: “a man of thought endures.” Other versions take מְזִמּוֹת ( mÿzimmot ) in a good sense; but antithetical parallelism is unwarranted here.


text: G. R. Driver, however, proposed reading the verb as “are adorned” from הלה (“Problems in the Hebrew Text of Proverbs,” Bib 32 [1951]: 181). A similar reading is followed by a number of English versions (e.g., NAB, NRSV, NLT). sn The proverb anticipates what the simple will receive, assuming they remain simpletons.


text: Or “prudent” (KJV, NASB, NIV); NRSV, TEV “clever.”


text: The meaning of יַכְתִּרוּ ( yakhtiru , Hiphil imperfect of כָּתַר , katar ) is elusive. It may not mean “to be crowned” or “to crown themselves,” but “to encircle” or “to embrace.” BDB 509 s.v. כָּתַר Hiph suggests “to throw out crowns” (throw out knowledge as a crown) or “to encompass knowledge,” i.e., possess it (parallel to inherit).


text: Many versions nuance the perfect tense verb שָׁחַח ( shakhakh ) as a characteristic perfect. But the proverb suggests that the reality lies in the future. So the verb is best classified as a prophetic perfect (cf. NASB, NIV, CEV, NLT): Ultimately the wicked will acknowledge and serve the righteous – a point the prophets make.


text: The phrase “will bow” does not appear in this line but is implied by the parallelism; it is supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness.


text: Heb “hated.” The verse is just a statement of fact. The verbs “love” and “hate” must be seen in their connotations: The poor are rejected, avoided, shunned – that is, hated; but the rich are sought after, favored, embraced – that is, loved.


text: The term “exhibit” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness.


text: Heb “loyal-love and truth.” The two terms חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת ( khesed ve ’ emet ) often form a hendiadys: “faithful love” or better “faithful covenant love.”


text: Heb “word of lips.” This construct phrase features a genitive of source (“a word from the lips”) or a subjective genitive (“speaking a word”). Talk without work (which produces nothing) is contrasted with labor that produces something.


text: The term “brings” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness.


text: The MT reads אִוֶלֶת (’ ivelet , “folly”). The editors of BHS propose emending the text to וְלִוְיַת ( vÿlivyat , “but the wealth”), as suggested by the LXX. See M. Rotenberg, “The Meaning of אִוֶּלֶת in Proverbs,” LesŒ 25 (1960-1961): 201. A similar emendation is followed by NAB (“the diadem”) and NRSV (“the garland”).


text: Heb “a witness of truth”; cf. CEV “an honest witness.”


text: The noun נְפָשׁוֹת ( nÿfashot ) often means “souls,” but here “lives” – it functions as a metonymy for life (BDB 659 s.v. נֶפֶשׁ 3.c). sn The setting of this proverb is the courtroom. One who tells the truth “saves” ( מַצִּיל [ matsil , “rescues; delivers”]) the lives of those falsely accused.


text: The term “brings” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity. Also possible, “is deceitful.”


text: Heb “In the fear of the Lord [is] confidence of strength.” The phrase “one has” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness.


text: Heb “confidence of strength.” This construct phrase features an attributive genitive: “strong confidence” (so most English versions; NIV “a secure fortress”).


text: The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied for the sake of clarity.


text: Heb “fountain of life.”


text: The infinitive construct with prefixed ל ( lamed ) indicates the purpose/result of the first line; it could also function epexegetically, explaining how fear is a fountain: “by turning….”


text: The term “people” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness.


text: Heb “snares of death” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); CEV “deadly traps.”


text: The preposition serves as the beth essentiae – the glory is the abundant population, not in it.


text: Heb “people.” Cf. NLT “a dwindling nation.”


text: Heb “hasty of spirit” (so KJV, ASV); NRSV, NLT “a hasty temper.” One who has a quick temper or a short fuse will be evident to everyone, due to his rash actions.


text: Heb “heart of healing.” The genitive מַרְפֵּא ( marpe ’, “healing”) functions as an attributive adjective: “a healing heart.” The term לֵב ( lev , “heart”) is a metonymy for the emotional state of a person (BDB 660 s.v. 6 ). A healthy spirit is tranquil, bringing peace to the body (J. H. Greenstone, Proverbs , 158).


text: Heb “life of the flesh” (so KJV, ASV); NAB, NIV “gives life to the body.”


text: The term קִנְאָה ( qin ’ ah , “envy”) refers to passionate zeal or “jealousy” (so NAB, NCV, TEV, NLT), depending on whether the object is out of bounds or within one’s rights. In the good sense one might be consumed with zeal to defend the institutions of the sanctuary. But as envy or jealousy the word describes an intense and sometimes violent excitement and desire that is never satisfied.


text: Heb “rottenness of bones.” The term “bones” may be a synecdoche representing the entire body; it is in contrast with “flesh” of the first colon. One who is consumed with envy finds no tranquility or general sense of health in body or spirit.


text: The verb עָשַׁק (’ ashaq ) normally means “to oppress” (as in many English versions). However, here it might mean “to slander.” See J. A. Emerton, “Notes on Some Passages in the Book of Proverbs,” JTS 20 (1969): 202-22.


text: The prepositional phrase must be “in his time of trouble” (i.e., when catastrophe comes). Cf. CEV “In times of trouble the wicked are destroyed.” A wicked person has nothing to fall back on in such times.


text: The LXX negates the clause, saying it is “not known in fools” (cf. NAB, NRSV, TEV, NLT). Thomas connects the verb to the Arabic root wd` and translates it “in fools it is suppressed.” See D. W. Thomas, “The Root ידע in Hebrew,” JTS 35 (1934): 302-3. sn The second line may be ironic or sarcastic. The fool, eager to appear wise, blurts out what seems to be wisdom, but in the process turns it to folly. The contrast is that wisdom resides with people who have understanding.


text: Heb “in the inner part”; ASV “in the inward part”; NRSV “in the heart of fools.”


text: The term is the homonymic root II חֶסֶד ( khesed , “shame; reproach”; BDB 340 s.v.), as reflected by the LXX translation. Rabbinic exegesis generally took it as I חֶסֶד (“loyal love; kindness”) as if it said, “even the kindness of some nations is a sin because they do it only for a show” (so Rashi, a Jewish scholar who lived a.d. 1040-1105).


text: Heb “the favor of a king.” The noun “king” functions as a subjective genitive: “the king shows favor….”


text: Heb “is” (so KJV, ASV).