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Prov 27 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27

OET interlinear PROV 27:17

◄ ← PROV 27:17 ↓ → ► ║ ©

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. בַּרְזֶל
    2. 397057
    3. Iron
    4. -
    5. 1270
    6. S-Ncmsa
    7. iron
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 277041
    1. בְּ,בַרְזֶל
    2. 397058,397059
    3. by iron
    4. -
    5. 1270
    6. S-R,Ncmsa
    7. by,iron
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277042
    1. יָחַד
    2. 397060
    3. it grows sharp
    4. -
    6. V-Vhi3ms
    7. it_grows_sharp
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277043
    1. וְ,אִישׁ
    2. 397061,397062
    3. and anyone
    4. ≈and
    5. 376
    6. S-C,Ncmsa
    7. and,anyone
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277044
    1. יַחַד
    2. 397063
    3. he sharpens
    4. -
    6. V-Vhi3ms
    7. he_sharpens
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277045
    1. פְּנֵי
    2. 397064
    3. the face of
    4. -
    5. 6440
    6. O-Ncbpc
    7. the_face_of
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277046
    2. 397065
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 277047
    1. רֵעֵ,הוּ
    2. 397066,397067
    3. his/its neighbour
    4. neighbour
    5. 7453
    6. O-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    7. his/its=neighbour
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277048
    2. 397068
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 277049

OET (OET-LV) Iron by_iron it_grows_sharp and_anyone he_sharpens the_face_of his/its_neighbour.

OET (OET-RV) Iron sharpens iron,
 ⇔ ≈ and one neighbour sharpens another.

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

27:17

The topic of this comparison (27:17b) is the way that one person sharpens the thinking of another person. The illustration (27:17a) is the way that one piece of iron sharpens another piece of iron.

17aAs iron sharpens iron,

17bso one man sharpens another.

The similarity is that the quality of a person’s thinking and the edge of an iron tool are both improved.

In Hebrew, this is an implied comparison. The two lines are connected with the word “and.” For example:

17aIron sharpens iron,

17band one person sharpens the wits of another. (NRSV)

Translate this comparison in a way that makes the topic and illustration clear in your language.

27:17a

As iron sharpens iron,

As iron sharpens iron: This line refers to the process of sharpening an iron tool, such as a knife. When the edge is rubbed against another piece of iron, it becomes sharper. Some other ways to translate this line are:

A person uses a piece of iron to sharpen an iron blade/knife.

In the same way that a piece of iron can improve the sharpness/edge of a knife/machete

Notice that the word “iron” is used only once in the second example. This may be a good option if it is awkward to mention “iron” twice and if people clearly understand that tools with blades are made of iron.

27:17a–b

(combined/reordered)

27:17b

so one man sharpens another.

so one man sharpens another: In Hebrew, this line is literally “one man sharpens the face of another.” Here the word “face” represents a person’s thinking ability, character, or behavior. When one person interacts with another person, both people learn from each other and their thinking ability clearly improves.

In English, words such as “sharp/sharpen” and “keen” can be used to describe both the blades of iron tools and the minds or wits of people. For example:

one person is sharpened by contact with another (NJB)

friends sharpen the minds of each other (CEV)

two people help each other to have keen thoughts

In other languages, it will be necessary to use more general terms. For example:

one person improves the ability of another person to think clearly

People learn from one another (GNT)

people can improve each other (NCV)

General Comment on 27:17a–b

In some languages, it may be necessary to use a different term in each line. For example:

17aAs iron sharpens iron,

17bso people can improve each other. (NCV)

It may also be more natural to state the topic before the illustration. For example:

17bPeople learn from one another,

17ajust as iron sharpens iron. (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּ⁠בַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ

iron by,iron sharpens and,anyone sharpens face/surface_of his/its=neighbour

Here, and indicates that Solomon is comparing what he says in the second clause to what he says in the first clause. In the same way that Iron sharpens against iron, a man sharpens the face of his neighbor. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Iron sharpens against iron; similarly, a man sharpens the face of his neighbor”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

בַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּ⁠בַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ

iron by,iron sharpens and,anyone sharpens face/surface_of his/its=neighbour

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “A man sharpens the face of his neighbor as iron sharpens against iron”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ & רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ

and,anyone & his/its=neighbour

Although a man and his are masculine, Solomon is using the words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: “and a person … that person’s neighbor”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יַ֣חַד

sharpens

Here Solomon uses sharpens to refer to developing or improving someone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “helps to improve”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

פְּנֵֽי

face/surface_of

Here Solomon uses face to refer to a person’s character or how a person thinks. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the character of”

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

27:17 iron sharpens iron: Wisdom comes from interaction, often critical, with a good friend (see 27:6, 9).

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. Iron
    2. -
    3. 1139
    5. 397057
    6. S-Ncmsa
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 277041
    1. by iron
    2. -
    3. 846,1139
    5. 397058,397059
    6. S-R,Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277042
    1. it grows sharp
    2. -
    3. 3137
    5. 397060
    6. V-Vhi3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277043
    1. and anyone
    2. ≈and
    3. 1987,266
    5. 397061,397062
    6. S-C,Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277044
    1. he sharpens
    2. -
    3. 3137
    5. 397063
    6. V-Vhi3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277045
    1. the face of
    2. -
    3. 6376
    5. 397064
    6. O-Ncbpc
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277046
    1. his/its neighbour
    2. neighbour
    3. 7161,1978
    5. 397066,397067
    6. O-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277048

OET (OET-LV) Iron by_iron it_grows_sharp and_anyone he_sharpens the_face_of his/its_neighbour.

OET (OET-RV) Iron sharpens iron,
 ⇔ ≈ and one neighbour sharpens another.

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 27:17 ↑ → ► ║ ©