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Prov 27 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27

OET interlinear PROV 27:9

◄ ← PROV 27:9 ↓ → ► ║ ©

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. שֶׁמֶן
    2. 396940
    3. Oil
    4. -
    5. 8081
    6. S-Ncmsa
    7. oil
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 276953
    1. וּ,קְטֹרֶת
    2. 396941,396942
    3. and perfume
    4. perfumes
    5. 7004
    6. S-C,Ncfsa
    7. and,perfume
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276954
    1. יְשַׂמַּֽח
    2. 396943
    3. it makes glad
    4. -
    5. 8055
    6. V-Vpi3ms
    7. it_makes_glad
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276955
    2. 396944
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 276956
    1. לֵב
    2. 396945
    3. a heart
    4. -
    6. O-Ncmsa
    7. a_heart
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276957
    1. וּ,מֶתֶק
    2. 396946,396947
    3. and the sweetness of
    4. pleasant
    5. 4986
    6. S-C,Ncmsc
    7. and,the_sweetness_of
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276958
    1. רֵעֵ,הוּ
    2. 396948,396949
    3. his/its neighbour
    4. -
    5. 7453
    6. S-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    7. his/its=neighbour
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276959
    1. מֵ,עֲצַת
    2. 396950,396951
    3. +is from +the counsel of
    4. -
    5. 6098
    6. P-R,Ncfsc
    7. [is]_from_[the],counsel_of
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276960
    2. 396952
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 276961
    1. נָפֶשׁ
    2. 396953
    3. a person
    4. person
    5. 5315
    6. P-Ncbsa
    7. a_person
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276962
    2. 396954
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 276963

OET (OET-LV) Oil and_perfume it_makes_glad a_heart and_the_sweetness_of his/its_neighbour is_from_the_counsel_of a_person.

OET (OET-RV) Lotions and perfumes make a person cheery,
 ⇔ → but it’s so pleasant to be given good advice by a friend.

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 27:9–10

Both of these verses are related by the theme of friendship. Verse 27:9 describes the value of a friend’s advice. Verse 27:10 describes a situation in which it is better to seek the advice of a neighbor than the advice of a relative who lives far away.

27:9

This proverb is another comparison that states the illustrations before the topic. The two parts of the comparison are joined with the word “and.” See the note on 26:1–28 for a list of other comparisons with the same form. The ESV has been used for 27:9a because it follows the recommended interpretation.

9aOil and perfume make the heart glad, (ESV)

9band the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.

The proverb compares a friend’s “earnest counsel” to “oil and perfume.” The similarity is that both are beneficial. They cause joy and are considered to be pleasant.

27:9a

Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,

(ESV) Oil: In Hebrew, this word refers to olive oil. Olive oil was used for many purposes. Here it probably refers to its use as a lotion for the hair and skin. This lotion was sometimes perfumed with fragrant spices to give it a sweet smell. Some other ways to translate this word are:

olive oil

fragrant lotion

(ESV) perfume: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew word that the ESV translates as perfume:

  1. It refers to perfume. People rubbed it on their skin to make themselves smell good. It was expensive, so most people used it only when they attended feasts or other happy occasions.Toy (p. 484), Garrett (p. 217). For example:

    perfume (NASB) (ESV, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NJB, RSV, GNTThe NCV has “sweet smell of…oils” and GNT has “fragrant oils.” The Notes have interpreted their wording here to refer to perfume rather than incense, since oil was an ingredient of perfume. Both versions use the term “incense” in contexts that specify the altar of incense.)

  2. It refers to incense, a substance that produces a sweet smell when it is burned. Elsewhere in the Old Testament it was used in connection with the altar of incense. It was also burned in special containers for burning incense in rituals connected with the tabernacle or temple. For example:

    incense (GW) (BSB, GW, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most lexicons.In this verse, where it is used with the term “oil,” BDB (#7004) and TWOT (#2011a) identify it as perfume. HALOT (#8348) agrees that in this verse it is used in “a secular context.” People put both olive oil and perfume on their bodies at special occasions. Incense could only be used for religious rituals. Ordinary people were not allowed to use it as perfume. (See Exodus 30:34–38.)

(ESV) make the heart glad: Here the word heart is a figure of speech that represents the whole person. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

27:9a–b

(combined/reordered)

27:9b

and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.

and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul: There is a textual issue in this line:In addition to the textual issue discussed in the Notes, there is another minor issue: The MT has “his friend.” Some scholars have suggested that the text should say “a friend,” because there is no referent for “his.” Versions that follow this minor change include the ESV, GW, KJV, NIV, NJPS, and NLT. This change does not result in any significant meaning difference, so it has not been discussed in the Notes.

  1. The Hebrew text has “and the sweetness of his friend from/than the counsel of a soul.” With this option, verse 27:9b compares positively with 27:9a. For example:

    and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel (ESV) (CEV, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT)

  2. The LXX has “but the soul is broken by calamities.” With this option, verse 27:9b contrasts negatively with 27:9a. For example:

    but the soul is torn by trouble (NRSV) (NRSV, REB, GNT) It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions and scholars.

There are two main ways to interpret the Hebrew phrase “from/than the counsel of a soul”:

  1. It means “from sincere/earnest counsel.” For example:

    likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel (NET) (ESV, KJV, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT)The NCV and NLT have been listed under interpretation (1) because they all express the close relationship between a friend’s pleasantness and his sincere counsel. The NCV uses a more general term “good” rather than “earnest/sincere,” and the NLT combines/reorders the two lines.

  2. It means “rather/better than a person’s own counsel.” For example:

    and the sweetness of a friend is better than one’s own counsel (NJPS) (NJPS, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions.See Waltke (p. 368, 378) for a detailed discussion of the textual and interpretation issues in this line. In addition to the two interpretations listed in the Notes, other interpretations include: (3) “so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend” (NASB); (4) “but true friendship is better still” (CEV); and (5) “but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest” (GW).

Some other ways to translate the meaning of this line are:

When a friend sincerely counsels a person, the pleasantness of his friendship can be seen.

In the same way, you(sing) experience the sweet character of a friend when he gives you earnest advice.

General Comment on 27:9a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine/reorder these two lines. See 27:9a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שֶׁ֣מֶן וּ֭⁠קְטֹרֶת

perfume and,perfume

Oil and incense here refers to pleasant-smelling substances that are put on a person’s skin. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “Pleasant-smelling oils and perfumes”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

יְשַׂמַּֽח־לֵ֑ב

make_~_glad heart

Here Solomon speaks of a person feeling glad as if that person’s heart were a person who could be gladdened. If it would be helpful in you language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “make a person happy”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וּ⁠מֶ֥תֶק

and,the_sweetness_of

Here, and indicates that Solomon is comparing what follows to what he said in the previous clause. In the same way that Oil and incense gladden the heart, the sweetness of his friend is from the counsel of the soul. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and similarly, the sweetness of”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וּ⁠מֶ֥תֶק

and,the_sweetness_of

Here Solomon speaks of the kindness of a friend as if it were sweetness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and the kindness of”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

רֵ֝עֵ֗⁠הוּ

his/its=neighbour

Although his is masculine, here it refers to a person in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “any person’s friend”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

מֵֽ⁠עֲצַת־נָֽפֶשׁ

[is]_from_[the],counsel_of soul

The phrase counsel of the soul refers to sincere advice. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “is from sincere counsel”

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

27:9 Nothing is more encouraging than heartfelt counsel from an intimate friend (see also 27:6).

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. Oil
    2. -
    3. 7668
    5. 396940
    6. S-Ncmsa
    8. S
    9. Y-700
    10. 276953
    1. and perfume
    2. perfumes
    3. 1987,6755
    5. 396941,396942
    6. S-C,Ncfsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276954
    1. it makes glad
    2. -
    3. 8099
    5. 396943
    6. V-Vpi3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276955
    1. a heart
    2. -
    3. 3747
    5. 396945
    6. O-Ncmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276957
    1. and the sweetness of
    2. pleasant
    3. 1987,4327
    5. 396946,396947
    6. S-C,Ncmsc
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276958
    1. his/its neighbour
    2. -
    3. 7161,1978
    5. 396948,396949
    6. S-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276959
    1. +is from +the counsel of
    2. -
    3. 4129,5737
    5. 396950,396951
    6. P-R,Ncfsc
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276960
    1. a person
    2. person
    3. 5059
    5. 396953
    6. P-Ncbsa
    8. -
    9. Y-700
    10. 276962

OET (OET-LV) Oil and_perfume it_makes_glad a_heart and_the_sweetness_of his/its_neighbour is_from_the_counsel_of a_person.

OET (OET-RV) Lotions and perfumes make a person cheery,
 ⇔ → but it’s so pleasant to be given good advice by a friend.

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 27:9 ↑ → ► ║ ©