PROV 13:24 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

13:24

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^24aHe who spares the rod hates his son,

^24bbut he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

These two lines form a chiasm. The parts in 13:24a occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 13:24b. If a chiasm is not natural in your language, you may need to change the order of the parallel parts. For example:

^24aWhoever fails to use the stick hates his child;

^24bwhoever is free with correction loves him. (NJB)

13:24a

He who spares the rod hates his son,

Someone who refrains from disciplining his child with a cane/stick shows that he actually hates him,
If a person does not truly love his son/child, he will refuse to spank him when he does wrong,

13:24b

but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

but someone who makes sure to discipline/correct him shows that he truly loves him.
but if a person loves his son/child, he will discipline/correct him diligently.

13:24a–b

spares the rod…disciplines him diligently: In the ancient Near East, it was common to use physical punishment as a means of discipline. These phrases contrast a parent who refuses to use physical discipline with a parent who diligently uses it.

spares the rod: The word rod refers to a stick or cane. A parent who spares the rod refrains from using punishment to discipline a child who has done wrong. The purpose of disciplining with a rod was not to injure a child or to cause pain (see Proverbs 23:13), but give consequences for his/her wrong actions. Therefore, be careful to translate in a way that does not encourage harsh or violent beatings. In English, the translation of “switch” (a thin, flexible rod used for physical discipline) might be better than rod.

In some languages, it may be helpful to supply a verb indicating what the parent was doing with the rod. If the verb is specific enough, you may choose to leave the word rod out of the translation completely. A few versions translate the word rod in a way that refers to punishment in general. For example:

Whoever refuses to spank his son (GW)

If you do not punish your children (NCV)

disciplines him diligently: A parent who loves his child takes care or is diligent to “discipline” him. The word translated as disciplines is the same word that was used in 13:18a. But here, given the mention of “the rod,” it probably means “correct” or “discipline” rather than “instruct” or “advise.” Some other ways to translate 13:24b are:

Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. (NLT)

but he who loves him disciplines him diligently (NASB)

hates his son…loves him: The word hates is a figure of speech (hyperbole). It emphasizes that a father does not truly love his child if he does not use physical punishment to correct him. In some languages, the word hates may literally indicate that the father feels hatred for his child. If that is true in your language, it may be better to use a different expression. For example:

If you don't punish your children, you don't love them. (GNT, NCV)

You can maintain the emphasis of the hyperbole hates by using the words “truly” or “actually.” For example:

^24aIf a person does not truly love his son

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

חוֹשֵׂ֣ךְ שִׁ֭בְט⁠וֹ שׂוֹנֵ֣א בְנ֑⁠וֹ וְ֝⁠אֹהֲב֗⁠וֹ שִֽׁחֲר֥⁠וֹ מוּסָֽר

withholds rod_of,his hates son_of,his and,[one_of,who]_loves_him he,seeks_him_diligently discipline

Here the terms One who withholds, his, one who loves, and him do not refer to specific people, but refer to these types of people in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “Those who withhold their rods hate their sons, but those who love them diligently seek them with discipline”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

שׂוֹנֵ֣א

hates

Solomon says hates here as an overstatement for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different way to express the emphasis. Alternate translation: “acts unlovingly toward”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

בְנ֑⁠וֹ וְ֝⁠אֹהֲב֗⁠וֹ שִֽׁחֲר֥⁠וֹ

son_of,his and,[one_of,who]_loves_him he,seeks_him_diligently

Although the term son and him are masculine, Solomon is using those words in a generic sense that could refer to either a male or female child. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: “his child, but one who loves that child diligently seeks that child”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שִֽׁחֲר֥⁠וֹ מוּסָֽר

he,seeks_him_diligently discipline

Here Solomon refers to a parent diligently disciplining that parent’s child as if that parent were diligently seeking that child with discipline. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “diligently disciplines him”

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.