PROV 23:6 Interlinear View

23:6 OSHB variant note: תתאו: (x-qere) ’תִּ֝תְאָ֗יו’: lemma_183 n_0.0 morph_HVtj2ms id_20QAE תִּ֝תְאָ֗יו

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.

23:6

This verse contains two parallel commands to not eat with a stingy person if he invites you to a meal. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^6a Do not eat the bread of a stingy man,

^6b and do not crave his delicacies;

The parts in the second line have a more intense or specific meaning than the parallel parts in the first line.

23:6a

Do not eat the bread of a stingy man,

¶ Do not go^(sing) to eat at the house of a stingy person.
¶ If a selfish person invites you to eat with him, do not agree/accept.

Do not eat the bread of a stingy man: The Hebrew idiom that the BSB translates as a stingy man refers to a person who does not like to share what he has with others. The context of this saying may be a situation where cultural obligations have forced a selfish or stingy person to offer hospitality. In such a situation, the young man should not accept his invitation to eat with him.UBS (page 489). Some other ways to translate this command are:

Do not go to dine with a miserly person (REB)

Don’t accept an invitation to eat a selfish person’s food (CEV)

Don’t eat at the table of a stingy person (GNT)

23:6b

and do not crave his delicacies;

Do not be greedy for his delicious food,
Do not crave/desire^(sing) the tasty food that he has prepared/served.

do not crave his delicacies: This clause is almost identical to 23:3a. See how you translated the same clause there. Here the clause occurs in the second line rather than the first, so it may not be possible to use the same wording.

uW Translation Notes:

[23:6](../23/06.md)–8 is Saying 8 of the 30 “words of the wise ones.”

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

אֶת־לֶ֭חֶם

DOM food/grain/bread

See how you translated the same use of bread in [9:5](../09/05.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

רַ֣ע עָ֑יִן & לְ⁠מַטְעַמֹּתָֽי⁠ו

evil eye & for,his_delicious_of,food(s)

Here, one evil of eye and his refer to a type of person in general, not a specific person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “any person evil of eye … that person’s delicious morsels”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

רַ֣ע עָ֑יִן

evil eye

The phrase one evil of eye is an idiom that means “a stingy person.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “one who is stingy”

לְ⁠מַטְעַמֹּתָֽי⁠ו

for,his_delicious_of,food(s)

See how you translated this phrase in [23:3](../23/03.md).

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

23:6 OSHB variant note: תתאו: (x-qere) ’תִּ֝תְאָ֗יו’: lemma_183 n_0.0 morph_HVtj2ms id_20QAE תִּ֝תְאָ֗יו

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 interlinear PROV 23:6

Hebrew word order

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

23:6

23:6a

23:6b

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