PROV 18:16 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

18:16

In this verse, 18:16b further explains the meaning of 18:16a. It specifies the kind of opportunity that a gift opens up for the one who gives it.

^16aA man’s gift opens doors for him,

^16band brings him before great men.

18:16a

A man’s gift opens doors for him,

A gift that a person gives is like someone who opens the door for him
A gift makes it possible for the giver to accomplish what he needs to do.

A man’s gift opens doors for him: This clause is literally “The giftWhybray (page 270) and Waltke (page 81) think that the context for this proverb is a legal setting, such as a courtroom. So they interpret the “gift” referred to here as a bribe. However, Ross (page 1027) points out that the Hebrew word used here has a more general meaning than the word for “bribe” used in 17:8, 23. Murphy (page 133) and Longman (page 358) agree with Ross that there is no reason to limit this context to bribery. The versions used in preparing these Notes all used a word such as “gift” rather than “bribe.” of a man/person widens for him.” This is a figure of speech (personification). The gift that a person gives is described as someone who makes the giver’s path wider. As a result, he can more easily reach his destination.

In this context, it means that a gift creates opportunities for the person who gives it. It figuratively opens doors and gives him access to people who can help him achieve his goals.Cohen (page 121), Murphy (page 133), Hubbard (page 251). Some other ways to translate this clause are:

A gift opens doors for the one who gives it (GW)

Giving a gift helps a person to accomplish what he wants

18:16b

and brings him before great men.

and leads/escorts him to important people.
It gives him the chance to talk with people who have influence/power.

and brings him before great men: This line continues the personification of 18:16a. The gift “leads” or “guides”TWOT (#1341). the giver into the presence of important people who have influence. Some other ways to translate this line are:

and leads him before important people (NET)

and gains him access to great men (NAB)

General Comment on 18:16a–b

In some languages, it may be clearer or more natural to reorder some of the phrases in these two lines. For example:

Taking a gift to an important man will help get you in to see him. (NCV)

Do you want to meet an important person? Take a gift and it will be easy. (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מַתָּ֣ן אָ֭דָם & ל֑⁠וֹ & יַנְחֶֽ⁠נּוּ

gift_of humankind & to=him/it & it,leads_him

The gift, a man, him, and it refer to gifts and people in general, not one particular gift or person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “A gift of any person … for that person … it will guide that person”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

מַתָּ֣ן אָ֭דָם

gift_of humankind

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a gift that is given by a man. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “What a man gives”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

יַרְחִ֣יב

opens_doors

Here, make room is an idiom that means “create an opportunity.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “will open doors” or “will create an opportunity”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠לִ⁠פְנֵ֖י

and,,before_of

See how you translated the same use of before the face of in [14:19](../14/19.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

יַנְחֶֽ⁠נּוּ

it,leads_him

Here Solomon speaks of The gift as if it were a living think that could guide the person who gives it. He means that giving a gift could result in a person meeting great ones. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “it will enable him to go”

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.