OET interlinear PROV 1:2

1:2–6

In Hebrew, the author does not address the readers directly in these verses. He merely tells the general purposes for the proverbs. For example, the BSB says:

for gaining wisdom…

Some other ways to address the readers are:

• Use a general word, such as “people.” For example:

  Their purpose is to teach people wisdom… (NLT)

• Address the readers directly as “you.” For example, in 1:2 the CEV has:

  Proverbs will teach you wisdom… (CEV)

• Use a different pronoun that is appropriate for giving advice, such as “we two” or “we all.” For example:

  These proverbs will help us^(incl) to become wise…

Use a form of address that is natural in your language for an author who is giving advice to his readers.

1:2

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^2a for gaining wisdom and discipline;

^2b for comprehending words of insight;

Proverbs 1:2a and 1:2b give the first two purposes or functions of the proverbs. In some languages, it may be more natural to begin these verse parts with separate sentences. For example:

^2aThese proverbs will help people to gain wisdom…

^2bThey will also help them to comprehend…

1:2a

for gaining wisdom: The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates here as “gain” literally means “to know.” This verb has more than one meaning. In this context, when it is used with the noun wisdom, it can be understood in two ways:

1. It means “to gain wisdom,” that is, to become wise. For example:

   to learn wisdom and moral instruction (NET) (BSB, NET, NIV, NCV, CEV, NLT)

2. It means “to learn about wisdom,” that is, to learn/understand what it means to be wise. For example:

   will help you recognize wisdom and good advice (GNT) (GNT, NRSV, NJB)

The Hebrew phrase probably has both meanings here.Ross (page 904). If you must choose between these meanings in your translation, it is recommended that you choose interpretation (1), because the main purpose of Proverbs is to influence behavior, not just to teach facts.

wisdom: The basic meaning of the Hebrew word ḥokmah, which the BSB translates as wisdom, is “skill” or “expertise.” In some verses in the OT, it refers to a person’s skill as a ruler, an artist, or a craftsman. In Proverbs, it usually indicates a person’s skill/ability to make good decisions, to act properly, and to do what is right in any situation.

Wisdom involves both knowledge and action. A wise person knows what is right and wrong. He understands what will lead to a good result, and he acts accordingly.

Before you decide how to translate wisdom in your language, it is recommended that you study the synonyms for wisdom in the Glossary. Compare them with all the words and expressions in your language that have similar meanings. Then decide which terms in your language correspond best with the Hebrew terms. Your language may have more or fewer terms that cover the same range of meaning as the Hebrew terms.

and discipline: The Hebrew word musar, which the BSB translates as discipline, refers to moral instruction or training. The purpose of this instruction is to develop the student’s ability to follow God’s laws and avoid wrong behavior. It usually involves some form of correction by someone in authority. This correction may range from warning or rebuke to punishment. Here the focus is probably on verbal instruction or correction. Some other ways to translate this word are:

moral instruction (NET)

good advice (GNT)

be trained how to behave correctly

See discipline in the Glossary.

In this context, the phrase “gaining…discipline” refers not only to the process of being taught, but also to the end result. The result is that a person’s moral character will be improved if he receives the instruction.

1:2b

for comprehending words of insight: The Hebrew verb used here, which the BSB translates as comprehending also means “understanding” or “discerning,” or “distinguishing.” So this phrase means that one of the uses of the proverbs is to help a person to discern or recognize insightful words and then to understand or correctly interpret them.Ten of the eleven English versions consulted translated this Hiphil infinitive (habin) as “understand;” The NASB has “discern.” Fox (page 76) says that the verb in this context means to interpret, to penetrate the inner sense, and TWOT (#239) comments that the Hiphil stem especially emphasizes ability to understand. But Ross (page 905) says that the verb “to understand, discern” means to distinguish between things, similarly Cohen (page 1). An NET footnote and Cook (page 15) also say that the verb refers to the ability to understand the difference between right and wrong, true and false. TWOT says that bin “includes the concept of distinguishment that leads to understanding.” According to NIDOTTE (H1067), the Hiphil stem can mean “discern, have (gain) understanding, comprehend, be acquainted with, bring to insight. The phrase words of insight refer to perceptive or insightful words or sayings. They are sayings that have profound/deep meaning. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

for understanding words of deep meaning (NJB)

to discern wise counsel (NET)

to help them understand the insights of the wise (NLT)