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Prov 27 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27

OET interlinear PROV 27:21

◄ ← PROV 27:21 ↓ → ► ║ ©

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. מַצְרֵף
    2. 397107
    3. A crucible
    4. -
    5. 4715
    6. S-Ncmsa
    7. a_crucible
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 277077
    1. לַ,כֶּסֶף
    2. 397108,397109
    3. +is for silver
    4. silver
    5. 3701
    6. P-Rd,Ncmsa
    7. [is]_for,silver
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277078
    1. וְ,כוּר
    2. 397110,397111
    3. and a furnace
    4. furnace ≈but
    5. 3564
    6. S-C,Ncmsa
    7. and,a_furnace
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277079
    1. לַ,זָּהָב
    2. 397112,397113
    3. +is for gold
    4. gold
    5. 2091
    6. P-Rd,Ncmsa
    7. [is]_for,gold
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277080
    1. וְ,אִישׁ
    2. 397114,397115
    3. and a person
    4. person
    5. 376
    6. S-C,Ncmsa
    7. and,a_person
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277081
    1. לְ,פִי
    2. 397116,397117
    3. +is to the mouth of
    4. -
    5. 6310
    6. S-R,Ncmsc
    7. [is]_to,the_mouth_of
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277082
    1. מַהֲלָל,וֹ
    2. 397118,397119
    3. his praise of his
    4. praise
    5. 4110
    6. S-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    7. his_praise_of,his
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277083
    2. 397120
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 277084

OET (OET-LV) A_crucible is_for_silver and_a_furnace is_for_gold and_a_person is_to_the_mouth_of his_praise_of_his.

OET (OET-RV) There’s a smelting pot for silver, and a furnace for gold,
 ⇔ but a person is refined by the praise they receive.

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

27:21

Notice the parallelism. The parallel parts in bold print are things that can be tested. The underlined parts are things that do the testing.

21aA crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,

21bbut man is tested by the praise accorded him.

This verse is a metaphor. It compares a person’s character (the topic) to silver and gold (the illustrations). There is both similarity and contrast between the illustrations and the topic. One way that they are similar is that they are all tested to determine their quality. One way that they contrast is that a person’s character and precious metals are tested in different ways.

In Hebrew, the two lines are connected by a conjunction that can indicate either similarity or contrast. Some versions, such as the BSB, connect the two lines with the word “but” to indicate the contrast. Other versions use a word such as “and” to indicate the similarity. For example:

21band people are tested by the praise they receive (NCV)

In some languages, the connection may be left implied. For example:

21aA hot furnace tests the purity of silver and gold.

21bPraise tests the character of a person.

Use a natural way in your language to indicate this kind of comparison.

In Hebrew, there is no verb in either line of this verse. Most versions supply a verb such as “tests” or “is/are tested” in one or both lines. See 17:3. In Hebrew, that verse explicitly uses the verb “test” in the second line.

27:21a

A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,

A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold: A crucible is a container used for melting metals so that the impurities can be removed. A furnace is like a large oven where a fire is made to melt metals. It has the same function as a crucible. Silver and gold are melted in a crucible or furnace in order to test their purity or to refine them. In this verse the focus is on testing and showing their purity.

This line is identical to 17:3a. See the notes on 17:3a–b for translation advice.

27:21b

but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

but a man is tested by the praise accorded him: In this context, the word man represents a person’s true character. The phrase that the BSB translates as the praise accorded him is literally “his praise,” as in the ESV. This phrase probably refers to his reputation—the good things that people say about him.There is an interpretation issue regarding the phrase “his praise.” It is not discussed in the body of the Notes, because of the lack of support for interpretation (2). (1) Except for versions that translate it literally, the versions used in the Notes all interpret it as an objective genitive (“the praise about him” or “the praise that he receives”). Scholars who support this interpretation include UBS, Fox, Longman, Hubbard, Whybray, Garrett, Toy, Murphy, and Cook. (2) The phrase could be a subjective genitive (“the praise that he gives”). This interpretation is supported by Cohen. (3) The ESV, KJV, and NJPS translate the phrase literally. They are ambiguous. Scholars who simply list alternate interpretations include Ross and Kidner. Waltke (p. 387) thinks that the ambiguity is intentional: A person’s character is tested by “public opinion.” It is also tested by “whom or what he praises.” These things serve as a test of his character. They show the kind of person that he is.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

and people are tested by the praise they receive (NCV)

but we are tested by praise (CEV)

As for people, their character can be known by their reputation.

and/but the praise that a person receives shows the kind of person he really is

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭⁠כֶּסֶף וְ⁠כ֣וּר לַ⁠זָּהָ֑ב

crucible [is]_for,silver and,a_furnace [is]_for,gold

See how you translated the identical clause in [17:3](../17/03.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ

and,a_person

Here, so indicates that Solomon is comparing what follows to what he said in the previous clause. In the same way that the smelting-pot reveals the impurities in silver and the furnace reveals the impurities in gold, the character of a man is revealed by how he responds to the mouth of one who praises him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “in the same way, a man is”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

וְ֝⁠אִ֗ישׁ לְ⁠פִ֣י מַהֲלָלֽ⁠וֹ

and,a_person [is]_to,the_mouth_of his_praise_of,his

Here, a man and one who praises him refer to types of people in general, not specific people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “so is any person for the mouth of any person who praises that person”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לְ⁠פִ֣י מַהֲלָלֽ⁠וֹ

[is]_to,the_mouth_of his_praise_of,his

Solomon implies that a man is tested by the mouth of one who praises him, just as silver and gold are tested by someone melting them in a smelting-pot or furnace. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “tested by the mouth of one who praises”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לְ⁠פִ֣י

[is]_to,the_mouth_of

Here, mouth refers to what the person who praises him says. See how you translated the same use of mouth in [10:6](../10/06.md).

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

27:21 A person who avoids conceit in response to praise demonstrates purity of character (cp. 17:3).

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. A crucible
    2. -
    3. 4567
    5. 397107
    6. S-Ncmsa
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 277077
    1. +is for silver
    2. silver
    3. 3705,3541
    5. 397108,397109
    6. P-Rd,Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277078
    1. and a furnace
    2. furnace ≈but
    3. 1987,3693
    5. 397110,397111
    6. S-C,Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277079
    1. +is for gold
    2. gold
    3. 3705,2105
    5. 397112,397113
    6. P-Rd,Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277080
    1. and a person
    2. person
    3. 1987,266
    5. 397114,397115
    6. S-C,Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277081
    1. +is to the mouth of
    2. -
    3. 3705,6255
    5. 397116,397117
    6. S-R,Ncmsc
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277082
    1. his praise of his
    2. praise
    3. 4366,1978
    5. 397118,397119
    6. S-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 277083

OET (OET-LV) A_crucible is_for_silver and_a_furnace is_for_gold and_a_person is_to_the_mouth_of his_praise_of_his.

OET (OET-RV) There’s a smelting pot for silver, and a furnace for gold,
 ⇔ but a person is refined by the praise they receive.

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 27:21 ↑ → ► ║ ©