PROV 27:26 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

Paragraph 27:23–27

This paragraph advises the reader to take good care of his sheep and goats (27:23). The reason is that accumulated wealth and a stable government do not last (27:24). When he does the work to provide food for the animals (27:25), they will provide a continuing source of clothing, income, and food for his family (27:26–27).

27:26

This verse describes the good result of providing enough food (27:25) for the flocks of sheep and goats. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. The two kinds of animals (underlined parts) will provide clothing and money (parts in bold print).

^26a the lambs will provide you with clothing,

^26band the goats with the price of a field.

There is an ellipsis in 27:26b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the verb from 27:26a. For example:

^26band the goats will provide you with the price of a field.

The Hebrew words that the BSB translates as “lambs” and “goats” usually refer to male animals. However, this verse does not imply that only young male sheep provided clothing or that only male goats were sold to buy land. The word “goats” in verse 27 is feminine. The mention of male lambs and goats in verse 26 and female goats in verse 27 implies that sheep and goats as an overall group provided what families needed.

27:26a

the lambs will provide you with clothing,

Then your^(sing) male lambs will have thick/plentiful wool/hair that you can use to make clothing,
You can make clothes from the wool of your sheep (GNT)

the lambs will provide you with clothing: This line contains implied information. It means that the lambs will provide wool so that you can spin yarn and weave cloth to make your clothing.UBS (p. 585). In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this implied information explicit. For example:

Then the lambs will provide wool for your clothing (VOICE)

You can make clothes from the wool of your sheep (GNT)

the lambs: In Old Testament contexts where lambs are used for sacrifices, the word lambs usually refers to young male sheep that are not more than one year old. Here the word may also refer more generally to male or female sheep of any age.TDOT (7:43). Some ways to translate this word are:

Use a word or phrase that refers specifically to young male sheep or to young sheep in general. For example:
young rams
the lambs (ESV)
Use a word that refers to sheep in general. For example:
your sheep (NLT)

27:26b

and the goats with the price of a field.

and you^(sing) will be able to sell some of your male goats to buy a field.
and buy land with the money you get from selling some of your goats. (GNT)

and the goats with the price of a field: This line also contains implied information. It means that you will sell some of the goats and use the money to buy a field. For example:

and sell some goats to buy a field (NCV)

and buy land with the money you get from selling some of your goats (GNT)

the goats: The word that the BSB translates as goats usually refers specifically to male goats. It probably has that meaning here.NIDOTTE (H6966), HALOT (#7418), and TWOT (#1719b) all define this Hebrew word (ʿattud) with words such as “ram,” “he-goat,” and “male goat.” In contrast, TWOT (#1654a) defines the word used in 27:27 (ʿez) as “goat, she-goat, kid.” Male goats were more likely to be sold than female goats, since fewer males were needed to maintain the flock.TDOT (7:51) points out that a flock of sheep could be maintained if one tenth of the animals were males. The ratio for a flock of goats was the same. For example:

the he-goats (REB)

In some languages, it may be more natural to use the general word goats, as in the BSB.

a field: In Hebrew, this word can refer to any portion of land. Here it probably refers to land that can be used for agricultural purposes or as pastureland for animals.

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.