PROV 26:7 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

26:7

This verse compares a proverb that is spoken by a fool to the legs of a crippled person that hang down useless.

^7aLike lame legs hanging limp

^7bis a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

The similarity between the illustration (26:7a) and the topic (26:7b) is that:

Both are weak, useless, or ineffective.
They cannot do what they were intended to do.

A lame person has legs, but they are useless for walking. A fool may know many proverbs, but he does not know how to use them properly. So they will not be effective in advising people or making them wiser.

26:7a

Like lame legs hanging limp

¶ The legs of a lame person dangle limply.
¶ If a person has paralyzed/crippled legs, they will not help him to walk.

Like lame legs hanging limp: Scholars do not know the exact meaning of the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as hanging limp. But clearly it refers to legs that are paralyzed or at least too weak to use. Some other ways to translate this line are:

Like the legs which are useless to the lame (NASB)

As the legs dangle from a crippleUBS (page 560), citing a recommended translation by HOTTP.

26:7a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ A proverb that a fool quotes/speaks is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
¶ A wise saying spoken by a fool is like the legs of a crippled person. It accomplishes nothing.

26:7b

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Proverbs that come from the mouth of a fool are just as useless.
Similarly, if a fool tells/teaches a wise saying, it will not help other people to become wiser.

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool: The word proverb is the same word that is used in 1:1 and 10:1a. Here it probably refers to a short, compact statement that a fool could easily use inappropriately.

The phrase in the mouth of a fool is a figure of speech that means “spoken by a fool” (NCV). Another way to translate this line is:

is a wise saying that a fool quotes/speaks

General Comment on 26:7a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to state the topic before the illustration. For example:

A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg. (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

דַּלְי֣וּ

hang_limp

Here Solomon implies that these Legs dangle uselessly because the legs of a lame one do not function. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “dangle uselessly”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

וּ֝⁠מָשָׁ֗ל

and,a_proverb

Solomon is leaving out a word that in many languages a clause would need in order to be complete. You could supply this word from the previous clause if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “and a proverb dangles”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וּ֝⁠מָשָׁ֗ל

and,a_proverb

Here, and indicates that Solomon is comparing what follows to what he said in the previous clause. Solomon is saying that a proverb in the mouth of stupid ones is like the Legs of a lame one because it is useless. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “in the same way a proverb”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

וּ֝⁠מָשָׁ֗ל בְּ⁠פִ֣י

and,a_proverb in_[the],mouth_of

Here, a proverb and the mouth refer to proverbs and mouths in general, not a specific proverb or mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “any proverb in the mouths of”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וּ֝⁠מָשָׁ֗ל בְּ⁠פִ֣י

and,a_proverb in_[the],mouth_of

Here, mouth refers to what a person says by using his mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and a proverb spoken by”

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 26:7