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OET interlinear PROV 26:5

◄ ← PROV 26:5 ↓ → ► ║ ©

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. עֲנֵה
    2. 396536
    3. Answer
    4. Answer
    6. V-Vqv2ms
    7. answer
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 276644
    1. כְסִיל
    2. 396537
    3. a fool
    4. -
    5. 3684
    6. O-Aamsa
    7. a_fool
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276645
    1. כְּ,אִוַּלְתּ,וֹ
    2. 396538,396539,396540
    3. according to of his foolishness
    4. according ≈foolish
    5. 200
    6. S-R,Ncfsc,Sp3ms
    7. according,to_of,his_foolishness
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276646
    1. פֶּן
    2. 396541
    3. lest
    4. -
    5. 6435
    6. S-C
    7. lest
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276647
    2. 396542
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 276648
    1. יִהְיֶה
    2. 396543
    3. he should be
    4. -
    5. 1961
    6. V-Vqi3ms
    7. he_should_be
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276649
    1. חָכָם
    2. 396544
    3. wise
    4. -
    5. 2450
    6. O-Aamsa
    7. wise
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276650
    1. בְּ,עֵינָי,ו
    2. 396545,396546,396547
    3. in his own of eyes
    4. -
    6. S-R,Ncbdc,Sp3ms
    7. in,his_own_of,eyes
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276651
    2. 396548
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 276652

OET (OET-LV) Answer a_fool according_to_of_his_foolishness lest he_should_be wise in_his_own_of_eyes.

OET (OET-RV) Answer a fool according to their foolish thinking,
 ⇔ so they don’t think they’re cleverer than they are.

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

Paragraph 26:4–5

These two proverbs are closely related. They assume a situation in which a fool has started to argue with someone or has said something in a foolish, angry, or insulting way.

The first lines advise the reader how to respond to the fool. The second lines give the undesirable result of not following the advice.

4aDo not answer a fool according to his folly,

4bor you yourself will be like him.

5aAnswer a fool according to his folly,

5blest he become wise in his own eyes.

In Hebrew and in many English versions, the first lines of each verse are identical except for the negative command “Do not” in 26:4a. They appear to give contradictory advice. Some ways to explain the apparent contradiction are:

  1. Different situations may require a different response.

  2. The meaning of the phrase “according to his folly” differs in 26:4a and 26:5a.

  3. The results in the second lines differ from one another. Verse 26:4b describes the result on the reader. Verse 26:5b describes the result on the fool. These different results fit the different meanings of the first lines.

There are different ways to interpret the advice in each of the first lines. These will be discussed separately in the notes on 26:4a and 26:5a.

26:5a

Answer a fool according to his folly,

Answer a fool according to his folly: This advice probably means “Answer the fool in a way that is appropriate for his foolishness.” Most scholars agree that an appropriate answer is an answer that fools are able to understand. It is an answer that will show them their own foolishness. It will keep them from thinking that they are wise (26:5b).

Scholars disagree about the kind of answer that is appropriate. It may be an answer that is serious, such as a warning, correction, or rebuke.Scholars who favor this interpretation include Waltke, Fox, Cook, Ross, Toy, and Cohen. Toy (page 473) comments, “the second (couplet) enjoins rebuke of folly.” Cohen (page 174) says, “When a fool expresses a view which is clearly wrong, it is necessary to correct him…” It may also be an answer that is intended to sound foolish.Scholars who favor this interpretation include Scott (pages 157, 159) and Kidner (page 162). Scott comments that using a fool’s “own foolish terms” will “show the fool his mistake in language he can understand.” Most English versions, including the BSB, do not specify whether the answer is serious or foolish. It is recommended that you translate in a way that allows either interpretation. For example:

answer fools as they should be answeredThis example is almost identical to the NCV. The NCV begins 26:5 with the word “But,” indicating a contrast with “a foolish answer” in 26:4.

answer a fool as his folly deserves (REB)It is possible that a fool’s folly deserves a stern rebuke. It is also possible that his foolish remarks deserve an obviously foolish answer that will show how foolish the fool really is.

26:5b

lest he become wise in his own eyes.

lest: See the note on “or" in 26:4b.

he become wise in his own eyes: This line means that the fool will become wise in his own opinion. Some other ways to translate this line are:

lest he be wise in his own estimation (NET)

or they will think they are really wise (NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

כְ֭סִיל כְּ⁠אִוַּלְתּ֑⁠וֹ פֶּן־יִהְיֶ֖ה חָכָ֣ם בְּ⁠עֵינָֽי⁠ו

fool according,to_of,his_foolishness lest will_belong wise in,his_own_of,eyes

Here, a stupid one, his, and he 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. See how you translated a stupid one in [10:18](../10/18.md). Alternate translation: “any stupid person according to that person’s folly, lest that person become wise in that person’s own eyes”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כְ֭סִיל כְּ⁠אִוַּלְתּ֑⁠וֹ

fool according,to_of,his_foolishness

See how you translated this phrase in the previous verse.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

חָכָ֣ם בְּ⁠עֵינָֽי⁠ו

wise in,his_own_of,eyes

See how you translated the same use of eyes in [3:7](../03/07.md).

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

26:4-5 Proverbs are often context sensitive. Whether or not to answer the foolish arguments of fools depends on what kind of fool and what kind of situation.

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. Answer
    2. Answer
    3. 5969
    5. 396536
    6. V-Vqv2ms
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 276644
    1. a fool
    2. -
    3. 3451
    5. 396537
    6. O-Aamsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276645
    1. according to of his foolishness
    2. according ≈foolish
    3. 3418,255,1978
    5. 396538,396539,396540
    6. S-R,Ncfsc,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276646
    1. lest
    2. -
    3. 6267
    5. 396541
    6. S-C
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276647
    1. he should be
    2. -
    3. 1929
    5. 396543
    6. V-Vqi3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276649
    1. wise
    2. -
    3. 2548
    5. 396544
    6. O-Aamsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276650
    1. in his own of eyes
    2. -
    3. 846,5826,1978
    5. 396545,396546,396547
    6. S-R,Ncbdc,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276651

OET (OET-LV) Answer a_fool according_to_of_his_foolishness lest he_should_be wise in_his_own_of_eyes.

OET (OET-RV) Answer a fool according to their foolish thinking,
 ⇔ so they don’t think they’re cleverer than they are.

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 26:5 ↑ → ► ║ ©