PROV 27:3 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 27:3

The topic of this comparison is the provocation caused by a fool (27:3b). The two similar illustrations are a heavy stone and a load of sand (27:3a). The similarity between the topic and the parallel illustrations is that all three are difficult to endure.

^3a A stone is heavy and sand is a burden,

^3bbut aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

In this kind of comparison, the second line is worse or more severe than the first line. The aggravation caused by a fool is more difficult to endure than the difficulty of carrying a heavy stone or a load of sand. No contrast is intended between the two parallel illustrations.

27:3a

A stone is heavy and sand is a burden,

¶ A heavy stone or a load of sand is difficult to carry.
¶ When a person carries heavy stones or sand, his body becomes very tired.

A stone is heavy and sand is a burden: These clauses refer respectively to a large stone and a load of sand that a person needs to carry from one place to another. It is implied that such loads are difficult to carry. They cause physical strain and exhaustion. Some other ways to translate this line are:

A stone is heavy and sand weighs a lot (GW)

Stones and sand are heavy (CEV)

It is difficult/tiring to carry a large stone or a heavy bag of sand

27:3a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ The burden/load carried by a person who is irritated by a fool is heavier than either a huge stone or a big bag of sand.
¶ It is easier for a person to carry a large stone or a heavy sack of sand than to endure the trouble/problems that a fool causes.

27:3b

but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

If a fool irritates/angers you, it is even more difficult to endure.
When a stubborn fool causes him to become annoyed/angry, his mind becomes even more tired.

but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as aggravation from a fool is literally “provocation of a fool,” as in the NASB. There are at least two ways to interpret this Hebrew phrase:

It refers here to the irritation or anger that a fool’s behavior causes other people to feel. For example:
but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier (NLT) (BSB, CEV, GW, NET, NIV, NLT, REB, GNT)
It refers here to the irritation or anger that a fool feels. It probably implies that the effect of this irritation is difficult for other people to endure.This implication is mentioned by Fox, Hubbard, Cohen, and Toy. These scholars do not specifically identify the effect of a fool’s irritation as implied information. It could also be understood as a figure of speech (metonymy) in which a fool’s irritation represents the effect of that irritation on other people. For example:
but a fool’s vexation outweighs them both (NJPS) (NCV, NJB, NJPS)
Some versions are ambiguous. It is difficult to determine whether they refer to (1) or (2). For example:
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both (NRSV) (ESV, NASB, NRSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars.Scholars who favor this interpretation include UBS, Ross, Whybray, Garrett, Murphy, and McKane. You may also translate in a way that allows either (1) or (2).

aggravation: In Hebrew, this word has a range of meaning. It can refer to anger, resentment, irritation, or annoyance.

fool: In Hebrew, this word for fool refers to someone who does stupid and wrong things because of his evil character. It is also implied that he is arrogant and stubborn. For example:

but annoyance caused by a stubborn fool is heavier than both (GW)

See fool 1 in the Glossary.

outweighs them both: The word outweighs is a figure of speech. Another way to translate this is:

is heavier than both (NIV)

In some languages, it may not be natural to speak of “aggravation” as something that is heavier than something else. Another way to translate this comparison is to use a different expression in your language that does not involve a figure of speech. For example:

but the irritation caused by a fool is worse than either of them

but resentment caused by a fool is more difficult to endure

General Comment on 27:3a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate the comparison from a different viewpoint. For example:

The weight of stone and sand is nothing compared to the trouble that stupidity can cause. (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

כֹּֽבֶד־אֶ֭בֶן וְ⁠נֵ֣טֶל הַ⁠ח֑וֹל

heavy_of stone and,the_burden_of of_(the),sand

Here Solomon uses the possessive form to state that a stone is heavy and sand is weighty. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “A stone is heavy and sand is weighty”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠כַ֥עַס אֱ֝וִ֗יל כָּבֵ֥ד מִ⁠שְּׁנֵי⁠הֶֽם

and_[the],provocation_of fool heavier more,than_of,both_of_them

Here Solomon refers to how vexing fools are to other people as if the vexation they cause were heavier than the weight of a stone and sand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “yet the vexation of a fool is harder to tolerate than lifting either of them” or “yet the vexation of a fool is like something heavier than the two of them”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וְ⁠כַ֥עַס אֱ֝וִ֗יל

and_[the],provocation_of fool

Here Solomon uses the possessive form to describe the vexation that is caused by a fool. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “yet how vexing a fool can be”

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 27:3