PROV 29:15 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

29:15

This proverb tells why it is important for parents to discipline their children. In this proverb, the causes (underlined parts) contrast with each other. The results (parts in bold print) also contrast with each other. The ESV has been used as the source line for 29:15a because it follows the recommended interpretation.

^15a The rod and reproof give wisdom, (ESV)

^15bbut a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

The overall meaning of this proverb is that proper forms of discipline by a child’s parents give the desirable result of wisdom in the child. In contrast, lack of discipline results in undesirable behavior that causes shame to the child’s parents.

This verse specifies only the mother. As with similar verses, the parallelism implies that either or both parents are involved. For more information, see the notes on 1:8, 13:1, and 17:21.

29:15a

A rod of correction imparts wisdom,

A stick/cane and a rebuke cause a child to gain wisdom.
A child who is beaten with a stick/cane and scolded when he does wrong will become wise,
If parents rebuke/scold and punish/spank their children, wise children will be the result.

(ESV) The rod and reproof give wisdom: This line implies that one or both of a child’s parents use physical punishment as well as rebuke to discipline their child. As a result, the child becomes wise.

(ESV) The rod and reproof: There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

It refers to two ways to discipline a child: using a cane or stick to give physical punishment and also using words to rebuke or scold. For example:
A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom (NIV11) (ESV, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV11, NJB, NJPS, NRSV, REB, GNT)
It is a figure of speech (hendiadys). It refers to one way to discipline a child: using a cane or stick to give physical punishment. This punishment serves as a rebuke to the child. For example:
The rod of correction gives wisdom (NAB) (BSB, NAB, NIV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

A spanking and a warning produce wisdom (GW)

Correction and punishment make children wise (NCV)

Notice that the NCV uses the general word “punishment” instead of rod. See how you translated “rod” and “discipline” in 23:13 and 23:14. It also changes the order of rod and reproof so that the more severe form of discipline comes last. This may be a good option if it is more natural in your language.

29:15b

but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

A child who is ignored will cause his mother/parents to feel shame.
but a child who is left alone to do what he wants will disgrace/shame his mother and father.
If they ignore/neglect their children, bad behavior will be the result, and their mother/parents will be shamed/disgraced.

but a child left to himself: The phrase left to himself means that the parents have allowed the child to do what he wants. They have not tried to control him by scolding or punishing him when he does wrong.Waltke (p. 442), UBS (p. 611), Whybray (p. 402). Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a child who gets his own way (NASB)

a neglected child (NRSV)

an uncontrolled youth (REB)

those left alone (NCV)

disgraces his mother: The context implies that a child whose parents neglect proper discipline will indulge in uncontrolled, disgraceful behavior.Hubbard (p. 453), McKane (p. 634). This bad behavior will cause his mother and father to be disgraced or shamed in their community. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

brings shame to his mother (NASB)

will disgrace/shame his parents

In many cultures that emphasize the concept of shame, there are idioms such as “lose face.” These idioms express the emotion that people feel when they are publicly disgraced. If you have an appropriate idiom in your language, consider using it here.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

שֵׁ֣בֶט וְ֭⁠תוֹכַחַת יִתֵּ֣ן חָכְמָ֑ה

rod and,rebuke he/it_gave wisdom

Solomon is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from the next clause if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “A rod and rebuke give a boy wisdom”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

שֵׁ֣בֶט וְ֭⁠תוֹכַחַת יִתֵּ֣ן חָכְמָ֑ה

rod and,rebuke he/it_gave wisdom

Here Solomon speaks of people using a rod and rebuke to make someone wiser as if a rod and rebuke were people who could give something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation:

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

שֵׁ֣בֶט

rod

See how you translated the same use of rod in [10:13](../10/13.md) and [13:24](../13/24.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וְ֭⁠תוֹכַחַת & חָכְמָ֑ה & מֵבִ֥ישׁ

and,rebuke & wisdom & disgraced

See how you translated the abstract nouns rebuke in [1:25](../01/25.md), wisdom in [1:2](../01/02.md), and shame in [6:33](../06/33.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

וְ⁠נַ֥עַר & אִמּֽ⁠וֹ

and,a_youth & his/its=mother

Here, a boy and his refer to children in general, not a specific boy. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “but any child … that child’s mother”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

מְ֝שֻׁלָּ֗ח

left

Here, sent away is an idiom that refers to permitting someone do whatever that person wants to do. If it would be helpful, you could use an equivalent idiom from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “who is left to himself” or “who is allowed to do whatever he wants to do”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

מְ֝שֻׁלָּ֗ח

left

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “whom his parents sent away” or “whom his parents do not discipline”

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 29:15

Hebrew word order

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

29:15

29:15a

29:15b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)