PROV 23:24 Interlinear View

23:24 OSHB variant note: גול: (x-qere) ’גִּ֣יל’: lemma_1524 a morph_HVqa id_20KFN גִּ֣יל

23:24 OSHB variant note: יגול: (x-qere) ’יָ֭גִיל’: lemma_1523 n_1.0 morph_HVqi3ms id_20L7f יָ֭גִיל

23:24 OSHB variant note: יולד: (x-qere) ’וְ/יוֹלֵ֥ד’: lemma_c/3205 morph_HC/Vqrmsa id_209VK וְ/יוֹלֵ֥ד

23:24 OSHB variant note: ו/ישמח: (x-qere) ’יִשְׂמַח’: lemma_8055 morph_HVqi3ms id_20Toi יִשְׂמַח

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 22:17–24:22: Here are thirty sayings of wise people

This section follows the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (10:1–22:16). It differs in significant ways from this preceding section:These differences were summarized from a number of commentaries, including UBS (page 472), Waltke (2004, page 22), and Hubbard (page 351).

The preceding section has mostly two-line proverbs that are one verse in length. This section has proverbs of a different form. They are sayings that range from one to seven verses. Most of the sayings are two or three verses in length. Each saying will be marked as a separate paragraph in the Notes.
Many of the proverbs in the preceding section express a general principle. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. Most of the sayings here contain direct commands. They advise the reader or listener either to follow wise behavior or avoid foolish behavior. Most of the sayings also give a reason or motive for following the command.
As in chapters 1–9, the author addresses his reader or listener as a father who advises his son. He uses second person commands and pronouns (you^(sing)). See the note on 23:15 for a list of verses where the words “my son” occur.

Some other headings for this section are:

Thirty Wise Sayings (CEV)

Words of the Wise (ESV)

Thirty Sayings of the Wise (NIV11)

Verse 22:20 mentions “thirty sayings,” but the Hebrew text itself does not number the sayings. Some versions that use the word “thirty” in the section heading also give a number as a separate heading for each saying. The GNT and CEV start numbering the sayings at 22:22. They have a total of thirty-one paragraphs. In these versions, the first paragraph (22:17–21) serves as an introduction to the thirty sayings (22:22–24:22).Scholars who identify 22:17–21 as the first saying include Hubbard (page 352), Fox (page 707), and Waltke (2004, page 22). Scholars who identify these verses as an introduction to the sayings that follow include Whybray (page 325) and Murphy (page 170). See also the NET footnote (b) on 22:16. Whether these introductory verses form the first saying or simply introduce the following sayings, all scholars agree that they function as an introduction to the whole section. Other versions, such as the NIV, NCV, and NLT, divide the paragraphs in the same way but do not have separate headings for each section. You may use either option in your translation.The NIV11 gives a number as a separate heading for each saying. But it counts the first paragraph as the first saying, and has a total of thirty paragraphs. Other versions have more or fewer paragraphs. For example, the ESV and NRSV have fifteen paragraphs. The NJB has thirty-four. Still other versions, such as the RSV, NET, and NJPS, do not group the verses into sayings or paragraphs.

For the convenience of those who decide to identify the number of each saying in their translation, the Notes will put the number in the paragraph headings, using the same numbering system as the GNT or CEV. These numbers will not be used in the Display.

Paragraph 23:22–25 Saying 16

In this saying, the father advises his son to pay attention to his father and mother (23:22). He should learn from them the truth that will make him wise (23:23). This will make them very happy (23:24–25).

The father’s role in giving birth to the son is mentioned twice. The mother’s role is mentioned once. This threefold mention strongly reminds the son that he owes his very life to both parents, so he should listen to them with respect.

23:24

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^24a The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice,

^24b and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

The underlined parts refer to the father of a person who is both righteous and wise. No distinction is intended between the parallel phrases “will greatly rejoice” and “will delight in him.”The verbs used here can both be translated as “rejoice” or “be glad.” The first verb phrase has an intensive meaning. According to TWOT (#346), it can indicate “enthusiastic expressions of joy,” and Waltke (page 259) translates it as “surely shouts in exultation.” However, the context of the son’s good character supports the idea of deep satisfaction, joy, or pride on the part of the father. UBS (page 502) suggests the sense “be proud of him.” Both these phrases imply that the father experiences much happiness and satisfaction as a result of his son’s righteous and wise behavior.

23:24a–b

(combined/reordered)

Someone who fathers/sires a righteous and wise person will be made very happy because of him.

a righteous man…a wise son: In Hebrew, the words man and son do not occur here. The parallel words righteous and wise can refer to an adult or a child of either sex. The BSB has supplied the words man and son, because the phrase “my son” occurs five times in this section. Here it refers to someone who is old enough to be described as righteous and wise. In many cultures, such a person would be a young or mature adult.

23:24a

The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice,

A person who has/fathers a righteous son is very happy.
How happy a father/man is if his son/child consistently does what is right.

The father of a righteous man: Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

The father of a righteous person (NET)

The father of a child who consistently does what is right

will greatly rejoice: In Hebrew this phrase has strong emphasis. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

has great joy (NIV)

will be extremely happy

23:24b

and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

He will get much happiness/pleasure from the wisdom that his son shows.
Yes, if his son is wise, he will be proud of him.

he who fathers a wise son: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “he who begets a wise son,” as in the NRSV. The word “begets” here is a slightly different form of the verb “he begot” that was used in 23:22a. See the note there. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

he who fathers a wise child (NJB)

Someone who has a wise son (GW)

will delight in him: In some languages, it may not be appropriate to use a phrase such as will delight in to describe a father’s reaction to the righteous and wise character of his son. Another way to translate this line is:

You can take pride in a wise child. (GNT)

General Comment on 23:24a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. For example:

If a son/person is wise and does what is right, it will cause his father to be truly happy.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

גִּ֣יל יָ֭גִיל אֲבִ֣י צַדִּ֑יק וְיוֹלֵ֥ד חָ֝כָ֗ם יִשְׂמַח־בּֽ⁠וֹ

(Some words not found in UHB: to_have_joy he_has_joy father_of law-abiding/just יולד wise and, in/on/over=him/it )

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word other than and in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “The father of a righteous one, rejoicing, will rejoice; yes, one who begets a wise one, he will be glad in him”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אֲבִ֣י צַדִּ֑יק וְיוֹלֵ֥ד חָ֝כָ֗ם & בּֽ⁠וֹ

father_of law-abiding/just (Some words not found in UHB: to_have_joy he_has_joy father_of law-abiding/just יולד wise and, in/on/over=him/it )

The father, a righteous one, one who begets, a wise one, and him refer to types of people in general, not to specific people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “Any father of any righteous person … and any person who begets any wise person … in that person”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / reduplication

גִּ֣יל יָ֭גִיל

(Some words not found in UHB: to_have_joy he_has_joy father_of law-abiding/just יולד wise and, in/on/over=him/it )

The writer is repeating the verb rejoice in order to intensify the idea that it expresses. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the emphasis. Alternate translation: “he will greatly rejoice”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

בּֽ⁠וֹ

in/on/over=him/it

The word translated as in indicates that what follows is the reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: “on account of him”

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