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Prov C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29 C30 C31

Prov 1 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33

OET interlinear PROV 1:6

← PROV 1:6 ↓ → ► ║ ©

Hebrew word order

    1. Hebrew word
    2. Hebrew lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    1. לְ,הָבִין
    2. 387096,387097
    3. To understand
    4. understanding
    5. 995
    6. SV-R,Vhc
    7. to,understand
    8. S
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269440
    1. מָשָׁל
    2. 387098
    3. a proverb
    4. proverbs
    5. 4912
    6. O-Ncmsa
    7. a_proverb
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269441
    1. וּ,מְלִיצָה
    2. 387099,387100
    3. and a parable
    4. parables plus
    5. 4426
    6. O-C,Ncfsa
    7. and,a_parable
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269442
    1. דִּבְרֵי
    2. 387101
    3. +the words/messages of
    4. words
    5. 1697
    6. O-Ncmpc
    7. [the]_words_of
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269443
    1. חֲכָמִים
    2. 387102
    3. learned ones
    4. -
    5. 2450
    6. O-Aampa
    7. learned_ones
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269444
    1. וְ,חִידֹתָ,ם
    2. 387103,387104,387105
    3. and parables of their
    4. their
    5. 2420
    6. O-C,Ncfpc,Sp3mp
    7. and,parables_of,their
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269445
    2. 387106
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 269446

OET (OET-LV) To_understand a_proverb and_a_parable the_words/messages_of learned_ones and_parables_of_their.

OET (OET-RV) understanding proverbs and parables—
 ⇔ the words of wise people plus their challenges.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–7: This is the purpose of Proverbs

This section is the writer’s introduction to the book of Proverbs. It contains an overall title for the book (1:1), a statement of purpose (1:2–6), and a motto or key verse (1:7). In Hebrew, the first six verses form a single sentence that gives related goals or functions for the proverbs. Proverbs 1:2a, 1:2b, 1:3a, 1:4a, and 1:6a all begin with a verb phrase that relates back to the title and gives one of the functions. The BSB translates these phrases as: “for gaining…, for comprehending…, for receiving…. To impart…, by understanding….” Proverbs 1:5 begins with a different grammatical construction. Several scholars therefore consider this verse to be a parenthesis, clarifying that the proverbs are also useful to people who are wise.

Some other headings for this section are:

The Purpose of Proverbs (NLT)

How Proverbs Can Be Used (CEV)

The Importance of Proverbs (NCV)

1:6

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

6aby understanding proverbs and parables,

6b the sayings and riddles of the wise.

There is an ellipsis in 1:6b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 1:6a. For example:

6b by understanding the sayings and riddles of the wise

There are two main ways to interpret the connection of 1:6:The first interpretation is supported by Scott (page 35) and Whybray (page 31). Whybray says, “the title is integrally related to 1:2–4, 6 in that the infinitives with which each of these verses begins cannot stand alone: they are syntactically dependent on 1:1.” Delitzsch (page 57) and Ross (page 906) both connect 1:6 to 1:2b, but agree with the first interpretation in that they understand 1:6 to refer to people in general. A possible argument against #1 (not mentioned in any commentaries) is that it seems awkward to say that the proverbs (1:1) will help people to understand proverbs, etc. (1:6). Interpretation #2 is followed by most versions, but is supported only by Fox (pages 62–63), who says that 1:6 “lists activities appropriate to advanced study, not to the education of the immature.…by study of Solomon’s proverbs, the learned man will master interpretive skills.” But Fox (page 58) seems to contradict this view by saying that “the series of infinitival clauses is dependent on the title.” Evidently he doesn’t include the infinitive clause of 1:6 in the series. An argument against #2, as stated by Toy (pages 5–6), is that it seems incongruous to advise “a sage to learn to understand the words of sages.” Toy understands 1:5 as a parenthesis, which if omitted, would result in “a symmetrical paragraph of two quatrains: 2,3 “that men may acquire wisdom,” and 4,6 “that the immature may be educated into understanding the discourses of the sages.” He thus connects 1:6 with the immature readers of 1:4. The BSB and NLT represent yet another view, in which 1:6 connects to the wise of 1:5, but as a means rather than a purpose: “by…”

  1. Proverbs 1:6 connects back to 1:1 as one of the four purposes of the proverbs. It applies to people in general. The NIV indicates this by setting off 1:5 with dashes as a parenthesis. The NJB reorders 1:6 before 1:5 so that the four purpose statements are not interrupted by the parenthetical command in 1:5. Here is another way to translate this:

    Then anyone can understand wise words… (NCV) (NIV, NJB, NCV, NET)

  2. Proverbs 1:6 connects back to 1:5 as a purpose for the wise to add to their knowledge. For example:

    so that they can understand… (GNT) (GNT, CEV, RSV, REB, NAB)

  3. Proverbs 1:6 connects back to 1:5 as a means by which the wise add to their knowledge. For example:

    by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables… (NLT) (BSB, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it follows the pattern of each Hebrew purpose clause relating equally to the title in 1:1. It also seems more reasonable to think that the book of Proverbs would help all readers, not only the wise, to understand parables, riddles, and other wise sayings.

1:6a

by understanding the proverbs and parables,

parables: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as parables is used only three times in the Old Testament. It probably refers to any figurative saying that is difficult to understand unless someone interprets its meaning. It may include shorter sayings, such as metaphors, or longer sayings, such as parables. Some other ways to translate this word are:

obscure sayings (NJB)

clever saying (GW)

stories (NCV)

figures (NRSV)

1:6b

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

the sayings and riddles of the wise: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as the sayings and riddles of the wise is literally “sayings of the wise and their riddles.” Both sayings and riddles come from the wise.

riddles: The Hebrew word has a broader meaning than the English word riddles. It refers to any puzzling saying or difficult question that needs to be interpreted or answered.

General Comment on 1:6a–b

The four terms listed in these verse parts overlap in meaning. In some languages, the same range of meaning may be expressed by fewer or more terms.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

לְ⁠הָבִ֣ין מָ֭שָׁל וּ⁠מְלִיצָ֑ה דִּבְרֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים וְ⁠חִידֹתָֽ⁠ם

to,understand proverb and,a_parable words_of wise and,parables_of,their

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second clause emphasizes the meaning of the first clause by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word that indicates that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “to understand a proverb and a parable, yes, to understand the words of the wise ones and their riddles”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

לְ⁠הָבִ֣ין מָ֭שָׁל וּ⁠מְלִיצָ֑ה

to,understand proverb and,a_parable

Here, to indicates a fifth purpose for these proverbs. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. You may want to begin a new sentence. Alternate translation: “These proverbs are for the purpose of understanding a proverb and a parable”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מָ֭שָׁל וּ⁠מְלִיצָ֑ה

proverb and,a_parable

Here, a proverb and a parable refer to these things in general, not to a specific proverb and parable. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use expressions that would be more natural in your language. Alternate translation: “any proverb and any parable”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

דִּבְרֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים

words_of wise

The author is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “to understand the words of the wise ones”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

דִּבְרֵ֥י

words_of

Here, the author uses the term words to describe what the wise ones say by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the sayings of”

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

1:6 Proverbs help the wise person to understand riddles. Here the Hebrew word (khidoth) indicates enigmas or paradoxes—difficult sayings that require interpretation (cp. Judg 14:14).

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

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Hebrew word
    5. Hebrew lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    1. To understand
    2. understanding
    3. 3705,940
    5. 387096,387097
    6. SV-R,Vhc
    8. S
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269440
    1. a proverb
    2. proverbs
    3. 4768
    5. 387098
    6. O-Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269441
    1. and a parable
    2. parables plus
    3. 1987,3927
    5. 387099,387100
    6. O-C,Ncfsa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269442
    1. +the words/messages of
    2. words
    3. 1726
    5. 387101
    6. O-Ncmpc
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269443
    1. learned ones
    2. -
    3. 2548
    5. 387102
    6. O-Aampa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269444
    1. and parables of their
    2. their
    3. 1987,2309,1978
    5. 387103,387104,387105
    6. O-C,Ncfpc,Sp3mp
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 269445

OET (OET-LV) To_understand a_proverb and_a_parable the_words/messages_of learned_ones and_parables_of_their.

OET (OET-RV) understanding proverbs and parables—
 ⇔ the words of wise people plus their challenges.

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 logo mark

← PROV 1:6 ↑ → ► ║ ©