PROV 24:11 Interlinear View

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 24:11–12 Saying 25

In 24:11, the teacher advises the young man to rescue people who are in danger of being killed. In 24:12, he warns him not to make excuses for failing to act. The reason is that God knows that such an excuse is not valid.

24:11

Both lines of this verse mean almost the same thing. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^11a Rescue those being led away to death,

^11b restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

The following verse makes it clear that the young man knows what is happening. He knows that these people do not deserve to die. He also knows that he could help them if he wanted to. In some languages, it may be more natural to make some of this information explicit in verse 11a. For example,

If you know that a person faces death and he does not deserve to die, rescue him.

24:11a

Rescue those being led away to death,

¶ Save/Rescue people who have been wrongly/unjustly condemned to die.
¶ If you^(sing) see an innocent person that someone is intending to kill, do what you can to rescue him.

Rescue those being led away to death: This clause does not specify who faces death. It probably refers to:

people who have been wrongly condemned to death by a court
people who are in danger of being killed by their enemies or criminals

The clause also does not specify how these people will be rescued. It could be by legal action, by paying a ransom, or by some other means.According to Waltke (page 276), the “crisis situation” here could include “disease, hunger, war,” and “the means of deliverance” could include “law, force, ransom.” On the basis of the religious reasons given in 24:12, McKane (page 401) favors the view that this verse refers to a context in which an innocent person has been “unjustly condemned.” If possible, translate in a way that allows one or more of these options.

being led away: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “being taken.” It implies here that these people are being literally taken somewhere against their will.Some English versions use a stronger word here to create a more vivid picture. For example, the REB and NJB both have “dragged.” Using a specific word like this may unnecessarily limit the situations to which this verse is intended to apply. For example:

Deliver those who are being taken away to death (NASB)

Some English versions understand the phrase being led away figuratively and leave this idea implied. For example:

Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die. (NLT)

You may use either option.

24:11a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ Be courageous enough to rescue someone/people who will soon be killed for a crime that he/they did not commit.

24:11b

and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

Do something so they will not be killed.
Do not ignore what is happening and allow him to die.

restrain: The verb that the BSB translates as restrain probably indicates that the young man should keep/prevent the potential victims from continuing on toward their death. It probably does not mean that he should literally grab hold of them and restrain them.

those stumbling toward the slaughter: The word that the BSB translates as stumbling creates a vivid picture in the mind of the reader. It describes someone who staggers or sways unsteadily as he walks toward the place where he will be killed.

However, this word should probably be understood figuratively. It probably refers to someone whose chances of staying alive are very uncertain. It probably does not refer to someone who literally stumbles.

slaughter: In this context, the word slaughter refers to one or more people being executed or killed. It does not necessarily refer to a situation such as a massacre in which many people are killed.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

don’t stand back and let them die (NLT96)

rescue those who are about to be killed (NCV)

General Comment on 24:11a–b

These two lines refer to the same situation. In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

Don’t hesitate to rescue someone who is about to be executed unjustly. (GNT)

Don’t fail to rescue those who are doomed to die. (CEV)

uW Translation Notes:

[24:11](../24/11.md)–[12](../24/12.md) is Saying 25 of the 30 “words of the wise ones.”

Note 1 topic: writing-poetry

הַ֭צֵּל לְקֻחִ֣ים לַ⁠מָּ֑וֶת וּ⁠מָטִ֥ים לַ֝⁠הֶ֗רֶג אִם־תַּחְשֽׂוֹךְ

rescue taken_away to,death and,[those_who_are]_staggering to,slaughter if hold_back

The two clauses in this verse say the same thing, but the phrases in the second clause are in reverse order. This is a literary device called a chiasm. Here, the writer uses chiasm to emphasize the importance of rescuing these people. See the discussion of chiasms in the [book introduction](../front/intro.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לְקֻחִ֣ים לַ⁠מָּ֑וֶת וּ⁠מָטִ֥ים לַ֝⁠הֶ֗רֶג

taken_away to,death and,[those_who_are]_staggering to,slaughter

The writer implies that these people are wrongfully taken to the death and stagger to the slaughter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “those who are wrongfully take to the death, and those who stagger to wrongful slaughter”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

לְקֻחִ֣ים

taken_away

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “those whom people take”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

לַ⁠מָּ֑וֶת & לַ֝⁠הֶ֗רֶג

to,death & to,slaughter

See how you translated the abstract nouns death in [2:18](../02/18.md) and slaughter in [7:22](../07/22.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

וּ⁠מָטִ֥ים לַ֝⁠הֶ֗רֶג אִם־תַּחְשֽׂוֹךְ

and,[those_who_are]_staggering to,slaughter if hold_back

If it would be helpful in your language, you could change the order of these phrases. Alternate translation: “and if only you would hold back those who stagger to the slaughter”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / declarative

אִם־תַּחְשֽׂוֹךְ

if hold_back

The writer is using a conditional statement to give a plea or command. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate these words using a plea or command form. Alternate translation: “I beg you to hold back” or “you must hold back”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אִם־תַּחְשֽׂוֹךְ

if hold_back

Here, the writer refers to preventing the slaughter of these people as if one were holding them back from going to the place where they would be killed. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “if only you would stop it” or “you must stop it”

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

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 24:11

Hebrew word order