PROV 3:19 Interlinear View

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)

3:19

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^19a The LORD founded the earth by wisdom

^19b and established the heavens by understanding.

These two lines figuratively describe how the LORD created the earth and the heavens. He did it by means of his wisdom and understanding.

3:19a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ It was also by means of his wisdom and skill that Yahweh created the earth and the sky.

The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding: The words wisdom and understanding were also used in 3:13a–b. In the context of creating the earth and the sky, they refer here to the LORD’s ability, skill, or expertise to create everything and set it in place.

See wisdom and understanding (good sense) in the Glossary.

3:19a

The LORD founded the earth by wisdom

¶ Yahweh also used wisdom to set the earth firmly in its place.
¶ Yahweh made the earth, using his wisdom.

The LORD founded the earth: According to the ancient Hebrew view of the world, the earth was a flat disc that the LORD founded or set firmly upon supporting pillars. These pillars reached down to sockets under the ocean. Some ways to translate this line are:

Use an expression that follows the Hebrew view of how the LORD created the earth. For example:
The LORD used wisdom to set the earth firmly in its place.
By means of his wisdom the LORD erected the earth on its supporting pillars.
Use a more general expression. For example:
The Lord made the earth, using his wisdom. (NCV)

3:19b

and established the heavens by understanding.

He used his skill/expertise to set the heavens in position upon their pillars/posts.
He made the sky using his great skill.

established the heavens: According to the Hebrew view, the LORD also set the heavens in place upon supporting pillars.These pillars may have been the mountains. This view of the universe is taken from Fox (pages 159, 281–283), Toy (page 71), and Whybray (page 27). Some ways to translate this line are:

Use an expression that follows the Hebrew view of how the LORD created the sky. For example:
The LORD used his skill to set the sky in position upon its posts.
Use a more general expression. For example:
The LORD made the sky/heavens, using his expertise.

heavens: The word that the BSB translates here as heavens is the same word that was used in Genesis 1:1. It refers to the sky, including the heavenly bodies. It does not refer to heaven, the place where the LORD lives. Here is another way to translate this:

sky (GNT)

General Comment on 3:19a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

By his wisdom and knowledge the Lord created heaven and earth. (CEV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יָֽסַד־אָ֑רֶץ

founded earth

Here Solomon speaks of Yahweh creating the earth as if he were laying the foundation of a building. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “created the earth”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

בְּ⁠חָכְמָ֥ה & בִּ⁠תְבוּנָֽה

by,wisdom & by,understanding

See how you translated the abstract nouns wisdom in [1:2](../01/02.md) and understanding in [2:2](../02/02.md).

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 3:19