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OET interlinear PROV 3:18

◄ ← PROV 3:18 ↓ → ► ║ ©

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. עֵץ
    2. 387960
    3. +is a tree of
    4. tree
    5. 6086
    6. P-Ncmsc
    7. [is]_a_tree_of
    8. S
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270055
    2. 387961
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 270056
    1. חַיִּים
    2. 387962
    3. life
    4. life
    6. P-Ncmpa
    7. life
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270057
    1. הִיא
    2. 387963
    3. she
    4. -
    5. 1931
    6. S-Pp3fs
    7. she
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270058
    1. לַ,מַּחֲזִיקִים
    2. 387964,387965
    3. to who take hold
    4. those embrace
    5. 2388
    6. SV-Rd,Vhrmpa
    7. to,who]_take_hold
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270059
    1. בָּ,הּ
    2. 387966,387967
    3. on her
    4. -
    6. S-R,Sp3fs
    7. on,her
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270060
    1. וְ,תֹמְכֶי,הָ
    2. 387968,387969,387970
    3. and those of who hold fast to her
    4. -
    5. 8551
    6. S-C,Vqrmpc,Sp3fs
    7. and,[those_of,who]_hold_fast_to_her
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270061
    1. מְאֻשָּׁר
    2. 387971
    3. +is called blessed
    4. blessed
    5. 833
    6. V-VPsmsa
    7. [is]_called_blessed
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270062
    2. 387972
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 270063
    2. 387973
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-pe
    8. S
    9. -
    10. 270064

OET (OET-LV) is_a_tree_of life she to_who_take_hold on_her and_those_of_who_hold_fast_to_her is_called_blessed.

OET (OET-RV) Wisdom is a tree of life for those who embrace it.
 ⇔ ≈ People who are consistently wise are blessed.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:13–20: Wisdom is valuable and is useful for both people and the LORD

This section teaches the value of wisdom by showing its usefulness to people and the LORD. It is useful to people, because it results in long life, wealth, honor, pleasantness, and peace (3:13–18). It is useful to the LORD, because he used it to create the world (3:19–20).

Another heading for this section is:

The Value of Wisdom (CEV)

3:18

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. They form a chiasm. The parts in 3:18a occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 3:18b.

18aShe is a tree of life to those who embrace her,

18band those who lay hold of her are blessed.

3:18a–b

(combined/reordered)

She is a tree of life: The phrase tree of life may be a reference to Genesis 3:22. It means “tree that gives life” or “tree that is a source of life.” (The same phrase occurs in Proverbs 11:30, 13:12 and 15:4.) In this metaphor wisdom is compared to a life-giving tree because wisdom also gives life and happiness to people who are wise.There is some question as to whether this metaphor refers to eating the fruit of the tree or grasping the tree. Fox (page 159) mentions ancient drawings of humans or animals standing beside the sacred tree and touching it. He infers that grasping the tree was evidently a source of life and strength. However, Delitzsch (page 94) and Garrett (page 82) both say that the fruit of the tree was the source of life.

those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her: The word that the BSB translates as embrace means “to grasp” or “to hold on to.” The second verb has essentially the same meaning. Drawings of people or animals grasping a sacred tree were common in the ancient Near East.Fox (pages 158–159). In this verse, people are described as figuratively grasping or holding on to wisdom. In some languages, it may be necessary to translate the meaning without using the figure of speech. For example:

those who consistently use wisdom

those who are consistently wise

3:18a

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,

3:18b

and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

are blessed: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as are blessed is a different form of the word translated “blessed” in 3:13a. It may mean “will be considered happy.”This meaning is advocated by Fox (page 159) and Delitzsch (page 67). This meaning is brought out by the RSV:

those who hold her fast are called happy (RSV)

But most versions do not specify “called” or “considered.” Here is another way to translate this:

will be happy (NCV)

The NJB expresses the same meaning in different words:

live happy lives (NJB)

General Comment on 3:18a–b

In some languages, it may be preferable to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. For example:

Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her. (CEV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

הִ֭יא & בָּ֑⁠הּ וְֽ⁠תֹמְכֶ֥י⁠הָ

she/it & on,her and,[those_of,who]_hold_fast_to_her

She and her here refer to wisdom. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “Wisdom … of wisdom, and those who grasp wisdom”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

עֵץ־חַיִּ֣ים

tree/message life(pl)

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a tree with fruit that sustains life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “is a tree that gives life” or “is a tree with fruit that sustains life”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

עֵץ־חַיִּ֣ים & לַ⁠מַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑⁠הּ

tree/message life(pl) & to,who]_take_hold on,her

Here Solomon speaks of wisdom as if it were a tree that gives life to those who eat its fruit. He means that wisdom causes a person to live a long and happy life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “results in a good life for the ones who take hold of her” or “is like a tree that sustains the lives of the ones who take hold of her”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לַ⁠מַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑⁠הּ וְֽ⁠תֹמְכֶ֥י⁠הָ

to,who]_take_hold on,her and,[those_of,who]_hold_fast_to_her

Here Solomon refers to people who persist in being wise as if they take hold of or grasp wisdom. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “to the ones who obtain wisdom, and those who hold on to wisdom”

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

3:18 The tree of life alludes to the original tree in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:9).

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. +is a tree of
    2. tree
    3. 5736
    5. 387960
    6. P-Ncmsc
    8. S
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270055
    1. life
    2. life
    3. 2448
    5. 387962
    6. P-Ncmpa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270057
    1. she
    2. -
    3. 1855
    5. 387963
    6. S-Pp3fs
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270058
    1. to who take hold
    2. those embrace
    3. 3705,2534
    5. 387964,387965
    6. SV-Rd,Vhrmpa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270059
    1. on her
    2. -
    3. 846,1978
    5. 387966,387967
    6. S-R,Sp3fs
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270060
    1. and those of who hold fast to her
    2. -
    3. 1987,8375,1978
    5. 387968,387969,387970
    6. S-C,Vqrmpc,Sp3fs
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270061
    1. +is called blessed
    2. blessed
    3. 744
    5. 387971
    6. V-VPsmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 270062

OET (OET-LV) is_a_tree_of life she to_who_take_hold on_her and_those_of_who_hold_fast_to_her is_called_blessed.

OET (OET-RV) Wisdom is a tree of life for those who embrace it.
 ⇔ ≈ People who are consistently wise are blessed.

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 3:18 ↑ → ► ║ ©