PROV 16:6 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

16:6

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in function:

^6a By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

^6b and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

There is a logical connection with the preceding verse. Verse 16:5 says that arrogant people will certainly be punished. Verse 16:6 explains how past sin can be atoned for and how future evil can be avoided. This future evil refers to both sin and its consequences.

16:6a

By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

If a person loves and is kind to others and shows that he can be trusted, Yahweh will forgive his sins.
Yahweh will forgive the sins of a person who shows love and kindness and is trustworthy/faithful.

By loving devotion and faithfulness: The word that the BSB translates here as loving devotion has three aspects of meaning: steadfastness/loyalty, love, and kindness. The word that the BSB translates here as faithfulness describes a person who is loyal or reliable. For more information on the phrase loving devotion and faithfulness, see the note on 3:3a. This word pair also occurs in 14:22b and 20:28a.

Most scholars agree that in all these verses loving devotion and faithfulness are qualities that people show, rather than qualities that God shows. But on this verse, scholars disagree about whether people show these qualities to God or to their fellowmen.Ross (page 1004) says that this verse (16:6) speaks of “faithfulness to the Lord,” and UBS (page 349) describes this as people’s love and faithfulness to God. However, Waltke, Delitzsch, Toy, and Murphy all understand this to refer to relationships between people. Almost all English versions allow either meaning. It is recommended that you do likewise, if that is possible in your language.

If you need to specify the object of love and faithfulness, it is recommended that you specify other people. It is true that “fear of the LORD” is directed toward God. But throughout Proverbs, qualities such as love, kindness, and trustworthiness are directed toward other people, especially people who are poor or oppressed.

iniquity: This word refers here to the iniquity of the person who shows love and faithfulness. The word that the BSB translates as iniquity may refer to either sins against the LORD or the guilt associated with such sins.

is atoned for: The word that the BSB translates as is atoned for has at least two aspects of meaning:Scholars disagree on the derivation and exact meaning of the Hebrew word that is used here. Scholars who focus on God’s wrath being appeased include Ross and Toy. Scholars who focus on the sin being covered over or forgiven include Whybray, Delitzsch, Murphy, Waltke, Cohen, and UBS. See Waltke (page 14) for a summary of the possible derivations.

It may mean that the sin is covered over or forgiven by the LORD.
It may also mean that the LORD’s anger against sin is appeased or turned away. The result is that he views the sinner as if he had not sinned.

If you have an expression in your language that includes both meanings, you should use it here. If not, you may use either meaning. The meaning lines in the Display follow the first aspect of meaning.

Some other ways to translate 16:6a are:

Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. (NLT)

Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin (NLT96)

Be loyal and faithful, and God will forgive your sin. (GNT)

If a person shows love and kindness and is trustworthy, the LORD’s anger will be appeased.

16:6b

and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

And if a person respects and obeys Yahweh, he will avoid/escape what is evil/bad.
The person who fears and respects Yahweh will also stay far from what is bad.

by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil: For the phrase the fear of the LORD, see the note on 10:27a. The word that the BSB translates as evil can refer to either moral evil or its disastrous consequences.

The GNT focuses on the consequences: “nothing evil will happen to you.” But the parallel part in 16:6a is “sin.” So it may be better to use a term that is ambiguous or else refers specifically to moral evil. For example, the NCV could mean either “evil deeds” or “evil consequences.” It has:

By respecting the Lord you will avoid evil.

The CEV specifies moral evil. It has:

if we show him respect, we will keep away from sin

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

בְּ⁠חֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭⁠אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֺ֑ן

by,loyalty and,faithfulness atoned_for iniquity

Solomon is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “By a person having covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness, a person’s iniquity is atoned for”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

בְּ⁠חֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭⁠אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֺ֑ן

by,loyalty and,faithfulness atoned_for iniquity

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness atone for iniquity”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

בְּ⁠חֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭⁠אֱמֶת & עָוֺ֑ן & מֵ⁠רָֽע

by,loyalty and,faithfulness & iniquity & from,evil

See how you translated the abstract nouns covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness in [3:3](../03/03.md), iniquity in [6:12](../06/12.md), and evil in [1:16](../01/16.md). Alternate translation: “A person atones for his iniquity by being faithful to his responsibilities to others and by being trustworthy.”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וּ⁠בְ⁠יִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה

and_[is],by,the_fear_of YHWH

See how you translated the fear of Yahweh in [1:7](../01/07.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

וּ⁠בְ⁠יִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה ס֣וּר מֵ⁠רָֽע

and_[is],by,the_fear_of YHWH turns from,evil

Here Solomon speaks of the fear of Yahweh as if it were a person who could protect people from committing evil. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. The second half of the verse, “and by the fear of Yahweh, one turns away from evil,” suggests that it is the wise individual extolled in Proverbs. Alternate translation: “A person atones for his iniquity by showing covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness.”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ס֣וּר מֵ⁠רָֽע

turns from,evil

See how you translated turns away from evil in [14:16](../14/16.md).

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.

OET interlinear PROV 16:6

Hebrew word order

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

16:6

16:6a

16:6b

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