PROV 25:12 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. These proverbs were organized and copied by men who served King Hezekiah. Most scholars divide this section into two groups. These groups differ in several ways.

The first group (chapters 25–27) has many more comparisons and admonitions. In Hebrew, most of these comparisons are metaphors in which one or more illustrations precede the topic. Some English versions change the order so that the topic precedes the illustration(s). You should follow the order that expresses the meaning naturally and effectively in your language.

In the first group, many proverbs are one verse long. As with the individual proverbs in the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (Section 10:1–22:16), they are not related to the proverbs around them. Other proverbs in this group are two or more verses long. Still others are one-verse proverbs that are closely related in theme. Proverbs in all three categories will be marked as separate paragraphs.

The second group (chapters 28–29) has more contrastive proverbs. The proverbs in this group are each one verse long. They will not be marked as separate paragraphs.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah (NET)

These are also wise things that Solomon said

25:12

In Hebrew and in the BSB, the first line of this comparison is the illustration. The second line is the topic.

^12aLike an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

^12bis a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

In some languages, it may be more natural to put the topic before the illustration. See the NCV (quoted in the next note).

25:12a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ To the ear of a person who listens, the rebuke/warning of a wise man is like earrings or other jewelry that are made of fine/pure gold.
¶ When a wise person advises his fellow man to change his bad behavior and the fellow man listens/obeys, that advice is as valuable as a beautiful gold earring/ring or necklace.

Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear: This proverb describes a wise man’s rebuke in the context of a person who listens to it. It compares this kind of rebuke to beautiful gold jewelry. The implied similarity is that both are valuable.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the similarity explicit. For example:

^12bA wise warning to someone who will listen

^12ais as valuable as gold earrings or fine gold jewelry. (NCV)

25:12a

Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

¶ What is very valuable, like gold earrings or fine gold jewelry?
¶ Earrings or other jewelry made of pure gold have great value.

an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold: These phrases both refer to kinds of jewelry that are made from gold. The two Hebrew words that the BSB translates as gold and fine gold are synonyms. These words do not imply that the ornament is made of finer/purer gold than the earring.

earring of gold: The word that the BSB translates as earring may refer to an earring or a nose ring.Toy (page 463) and Fox (page 783) mention both possibilities. Fox agrees with Waltke (page 321) and others that an earring forms a better parallel with a “listening ear” in 25:12b. In this verse, most English versions have either “earring” or “ring.”

ornament of fine gold: The word that the BSB translates as ornament may refer specifically to a necklace. It may also refer generally to various kinds of jewelry.

Some ways to translate these two phrases are:

Use specific terms. For example:
a golden earring, or a necklace of fine gold (NAB)
Use a combination of specific and general terms. For example:
a gold ring or an ornament of gold (NRSV)
a gold earring or other gold jewelry (NLT)
Use one general term. For example:
jewelry made of gold (CEV)

25:12b

is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

Is it not a warning/rebuke from a wise person to someone who is willing to listen?
Likewise, helpful criticism has great worth to a person who heeds it.

a wise man’s rebuke: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “a wise reprover,” as in the ESV. It refers to a wise person who rebukes or warns someone in order to correct his bad behavior. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a wise rebuke (NRSV)

valid criticism (NLT)

a wise person who advises someone to stop doing what is wrong

to a listening ear: This phrase is a figure of speech. It represents a person who listens. It implies that the person listens attentively and heeds the rebuke. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

Keep the figure of speech. For example:
an obedient ear (NAB)
the ear of one who listens (GW)
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
someone willing to listen (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

נֶ֣זֶם זָ֭הָב וַ⁠חֲלִי־כָ֑תֶם מוֹכִ֥יחַ חָ֝כָ֗ם עַל־אֹ֥זֶן שֹׁמָֽעַת

ring_of gold and,an_ornament_of fine_gold rebuke wise on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in ear (Some words not found in UHB: ring_of gold and,an_ornament_of fine_gold rebuke wise on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in ear listening )

If it would be helpful in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: [A wise rebuke to a listening ear is a ring of gold and jewelry of fine gold]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נֶ֣זֶם זָ֭הָב וַ⁠חֲלִי־כָ֑תֶם

ring_of gold and,an_ornament_of fine_gold

In this verse, Solomon speaks of a wise rebuke being valuable to those who hear it as if it were A ring of gold and jewelry of fine gold. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: [Very valuable] or [Like a ring of gold and jewelry of fine gold]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

נֶ֣זֶם זָ֭הָב וַ⁠חֲלִי־כָ֑תֶם

ring_of gold and,an_ornament_of fine_gold

Here Solomon is using possessive forms to describe a ring made from gold and jewelry made from fine gold. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use different expressions. Alternate translation: [A ring made of gold and jewelry made of fine gold]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מוֹכִ֥יחַ חָ֝כָ֗ם עַל

rebuke wise on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of rebuke, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [is when someone wisely corrects]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

אֹ֥זֶן שֹׁמָֽעַת

ear (Some words not found in UHB: ring_of gold and,an_ornament_of fine_gold rebuke wise on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in ear listening )

Here, a listening ear refers to someone who not only hears the rebuke, but accepts it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the same use of ear in [18:15](../18/15.md). Alternate translation: [someone who accepts 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.