Open Bible Data Home  About  News  OET Key

OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB MSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV SLT Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wycl SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Topics Parallel Interlinear Reference Dictionary Search

InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV

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 21 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 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

OET interlinear PROV 21:1

◄ ↨ PROV 21:1 ↓ → ► ║ ©

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. פַּלְגֵי
    2. 394326
    3. +is streams of
    4. streams
    5. 6388
    6. P-Ncmpc
    7. [is]_streams_of
    8. S
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274955
    2. 394327
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 274956
    1. מַיִם
    2. 394328
    3. water
    4. water
    5. 4325
    6. P-Ncmpa
    7. water
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274957
    1. לֶב
    2. 394329
    3. +the heart of
    4. -
    6. S-Ncmsc
    7. [the]_heart_of
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274958
    2. 394330
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 274959
    1. מֶלֶךְ
    2. 394331
    3. a king
    4. -
    5. 4428
    6. S-Ncmsa
    7. a_king
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274960
    1. בְּ,יַד
    2. 394332,394333
    3. in the hand of
    4. -
    5. 3027
    6. S-R,Ncbsc
    7. in,the_hand_of
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274961
    2. 394334
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 274962
    1. יְהוָה
    2. 394335
    3. YHWH
    4. Yahweh
    5. 3068
    6. S-Np
    7. of_Yahweh
    8. -
    9. Person=God; Y-1000
    10. 274963
    1. עַֽל
    2. 394336
    3. to
    4. -
    6. S-R
    7. to
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274964
    2. 394337
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 274965
    1. כָּל
    2. 394338
    3. all of
    4. -
    5. 3605
    6. S-Ncmsc
    7. all_of
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274966
    2. 394339
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 274967
    1. אֲשֶׁר
    2. 394340
    3. that
    4. -
    6. S-Tr
    7. that
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274968
    1. יַחְפֹּץ
    2. 394341
    3. he desires
    4. -
    6. V-Vqi3ms
    7. he_desires
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274969
    1. יַטֶּֽ,נּוּ
    2. 394342,394343
    3. he turns it
    4. -
    5. 5186
    6. VO-Vhi3ms,Sp3ms
    7. he,turns_it
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274970
    2. 394344
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 274971

OET (OET-LV) is_streams_of water the_heart_of a_king in_the_hand_of YHWH to all_of that he_desires he_turns_it.

OET (OET-RV) The king’s thoughts are like streams of water to Yahweh—
 ⇔ → he directs them to go wherever he wants.

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

21:1

This proverb teaches that the LORD controls the king’s mind or thinking and directs it wherever he wants. The verse illustrates this truth with the metaphor of a watercourse (literally “channels of water”). The NIV changed the metaphor to a simile by supplying the word “like.” It has:

1aThe king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord;

1bhe directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

21:1a–b

(combined/reordered)

In Hebrew, the topic and image of the metaphor both occur in the first line, as in the BSB and ESV. For example:

1aThe king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;

1bhe turns it wherever he will. (ESV)

There are two ways to interpret what the LORD controls and “directs/turns”:

  1. The LORD controls the king’s heart and directs it wherever he wants. He directs it like people direct the course of irrigation channels. For example:

    The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. (NASB) (NASB, NET, NIV, NJPS, REB)The BSB, ESV, NAB, NJB, and NRSV are ambiguous. For example, the NJB has: “Like flowing water is a king’s heart in Yahweh’s hand; he directs it wherever he pleases.” Both “flowing water” and “a king’s heart” are singular. The pronoun “it” could refer to either one.

  2. The LORD controls the king’s heart like he (the LORD) directs the course of a stream. For example:

    The Lord controls the mind of a king as easily as he directs the course of a stream. (GNT) (CEV, GW, NCV, NLT, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most scholars. The word that the BSB translates as “waterway” refers to man-made irrigation channels or canals. It does not refer to natural streams or rivers.HALOT (#7567) and HOL (#6797) gloss this word as “artificial water channel, canal.” TWOT (#1769a) has “channel, canal.” NIDOTTE (H7104) says that “the people themselves…developed canals, irrigation ditches, and channels for the water.” Different Hebrew words, such as yǝʾor (usually referring to the Nile), nahar (usually referring to rivers with a continual flow), and nahal (usually referring to temporary streams or torrents) are used to refer to natural rivers or streams. See NIDOTTE (H5643) for more details.

For other ways to translate the metaphor in this verse, see the General Comment on 21:1a–b after the note on 21:1b.

21:1a

The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD;

The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD: In the OT, the word heart refers primarily to the mind or thoughts. The phrase that the BSB translates as waterway is literally “channels/canals of water” in Hebrew. It refers to a system of irrigation that uses man-made dams and canals. Here it is part of a figure of speech that describes the king’s heart. The parallel line (21:1b) explains more about how a king’s heart is like a waterway.

The phrase in the hand of the LORD is also a figure of speech. It represents the power or control which the LORD holds. The whole clause indicates that the LORD controls the thinking and decisions of the king as he rules. Here is another way to translate The king’s heart is…in the hand of the LORD:

The Lord controls the mind of a king (GNT)

21:1b

He directs it where He pleases.

He directs it where He pleases: Here, the pronoun it refers to the king’s heart, which the previous line identified as a “waterway.” A farmer regulates the flow of water to his garden by damming up some water channels and opening others. In this way he directs the water wherever he wants it to go. Similarly, the LORD directs the mind of a king so that the king makes decisions that accomplish the purposes of the LORD.Ross (page 1049), Cohen (page 138), Hubbard (page 250), Waltke (page 168). Fox (page 679) says that farmers opened or closed “hinged wooden hatches” with a handle in order to direct the water from one channel to another.

General Comment on 21:1a–b

Some ways to translate the metaphor in this verse are:

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

לֶב־מֶ֭לֶךְ

heart_of king

The heart of a king refers to the heart of any king in general, not a specific king. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “The heart of any king”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לֶב

heart_of

See how you translated the same use of heart in [2:2](../02/02.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

פַּלְגֵי־מַ֣יִם & בְּ⁠יַד־יְהוָ֑ה & יַטֶּֽ⁠נּוּ

stream_of waters & in,the_hand_of YHWH & he,turns_it

In this verse, Solomon speaks of Yahweh using the heart of a king to accomplish his purposes as if the heart were water streams that he steers to go to the places where he wants them to go. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a synonym. Alternate translation: “is controlled by Yahweh to do” or “is controlled by Yahweh like a farmer controls streams to act”

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. +is streams of
    2. streams
    3. 6261
    5. 394326
    6. P-Ncmpc
    8. S
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274955
    1. water
    2. water
    3. 4433
    5. 394328
    6. P-Ncmpa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274957
    1. +the heart of
    2. -
    3. 3747
    5. 394329
    6. S-Ncmsc
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274958
    1. a king
    2. -
    3. 4308
    5. 394331
    6. S-Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274960
    1. in the hand of
    2. -
    3. 846,3204
    5. 394332,394333
    6. S-R,Ncbsc
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274961
    1. YHWH
    2. Yahweh
    3. 3354
    5. 394335
    6. S-Np
    8. -
    9. Person=God; Y-1000
    10. 274963
    1. to
    2. -
    3. 5837
    5. 394336
    6. S-R
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274964
    1. all of
    2. -
    3. 3671
    5. 394338
    6. S-Ncmsc
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274966
    1. that
    2. -
    3. 238
    5. 394340
    6. S-Tr
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274968
    1. he desires
    2. -
    3. 2603
    5. 394341
    6. V-Vqi3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274969
    1. he turns it
    2. -
    3. 5168,1978
    5. 394342,394343
    6. VO-Vhi3ms,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 274970

OET (OET-LV) is_streams_of water the_heart_of a_king in_the_hand_of YHWH to all_of that he_desires he_turns_it.

OET (OET-RV) The king’s thoughts are like streams of water to Yahweh—
 ⇔ → he directs them to go wherever he wants.

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 21:1 ↑ → ► ║ ©