PROV 6:23 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:20–35: Ninth lesson: If you commit adultery, you will be severely punished

This lesson may be summarized as follows: The son should heed his parents’ teaching, because it will keep him from the dangers of adultery (6:20–24). He should strictly avoid being tempted by another man’s wife. An affair with such a woman will have inevitable and disastrous consequences (6:25–33), resulting from the jealous fury of the husband (6:34–35).

Some other headings for this section are:

Warning Against Adultery (NIV)

Avoid adultery

More Advice About Avoiding Adultery (GW)

The terrible consequences of committing adultery

Paragraph 6:20–35

In these notes, this section forms a single paragraph (as in the NRSV). If a long paragraph like this is not natural in your language, you may want to make paragraph breaks as in the section summary above. Some other ways to divide the paragraphs are:

6:20–26, 27–35 (GNT)
6:20–22, 23–29, 30–35 (CEV)
6:20–29, 30–35 (NIV)

Divide the paragraphs in a way that fits the natural patterns of your language.

6:23

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. The first two lines are almost identical in meaning. The third line uses a different metaphor. The REB has been used as the source line for 6:23a–b, because it follows the recommended interpretation.

^23aFor a commandment is a lamp, (REB)

^23band teaching a light, (REB)

^23cand the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

There is an ellipsis in 6:23b. In some languages, the missing word may need to be supplied from 6:23a. For example:

^23band teaching is a light

6:23a–b

(combined/reordered)

The reason your^(sing) parents’ teaching will do these things is that good commands and instruction are like a lamp that shines on your pathway.

(REB) For: The word For introduces three parallel clauses. They explain the reason for the statement that instruction from parents will guide, protect, and advise the young man. The reason is that all good teaching can be compared to a lamp.

(REB) a commandment is a lamp, and teaching a light: The words commandment and teaching are the same words that were used in 6:20. They are always used in Proverbs to refer to instruction from parents. However, here in 6:23 they are compared to a lamp and a light, metaphors that are clearly used of the Law of the LORD in Psalm 119:105. There are different ways to interpret what these words refer to:

The words commandment and teaching refer to law and instruction in general, including the Law of the LORD as well as the instructions from parents mentioned in 6:20. For example:
For the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light. (NET) (NJB, NASB, REB, RSV, NJPS, GW, NET)
They refer only to the instructions from parents. For example:
These commands are like a lamp; this teaching is like a light. (NCV) (BSB, GNT, NIV, NCV, NLT)
They refer specifically to the Law of the LORD. Instruction from parents is no longer in view here. For example:
The Law of the Lord is a lamp, and its teachings shine brightly. (CEV) (CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is supported by slightly more versions and scholars. It also includes the other two more specific interpretations.

(REB) a lamp…a light: In these synonymous metaphors, commandments and teaching are compared to a lamp or light. They are similar to a lamp or light in several ways. A lamp shows a person where he is going and allows him to see dangerous obstacles on a dark path. It also replaces the darkness with light. In the same way, good teaching shows to a learner the path he should take in life. It reveals to him the dangers that he faces, specifically the danger of getting involved with an adulteress (6:24). It also replaces his ignorance with knowledge.

General Comment on 6:23a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder one or more of the parallel parts in these two lines. For example:

For instructions are a shining light.

It may also be necessary in some languages to express “lamp” or “light” as a verb or to change the metaphors to similes. For example:

For commands and teaching are like a lamp that illuminates the path ahead of you.

If it is necessary to make a point of similarity explicit, do it in a general way, as in the preceding example, so that the translation does not exclude other valid points of similarity.

6:23a

For this commandment is a lamp,

This is true because commands are like a lamp,

6:23b

this teaching is a light,

and teaching is like a light that shines on a dark path.

6:23c

and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

The correction that comes from these commands will keep you^(sing) on the path that leads to true life.
They will rebuke and correct you so that you stay on the road that leads to life.

and the reproofs of discipline: The LXX, Syriac, and Targums have “guidance and instruction.” This explains versions such as the REB and NJB, which have a coordinate (X and Y) structure rather than X of Y. However, the Hebrew construction is more natural. The two words reproofs and discipline are near synonyms. Both terms vary in meaning. They can refer to moral teaching or instruction. They can also refer to rebuke, correction, or punishment. (For “discipline” see discipline in the Glossary.) Because of this overlap in meaning, the GNT combines both ideas into one:

their correction (GNT)

The NCV understands the relationship slightly differently:

the correction that comes from them (NCV)

(The word “them” refers back to “commandment” and “teaching.”) This phrase may be translated either way.

are the way to life: In Hebrew, the phrase way to life is literally “way/path of life.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

the way that leads to life. For example:
will help you have life (NCV) (BSB, NIV, NLT, REB, NJB, NCV, NET)
the way how to live. For example:
can teach you how to live (GNT) (CEV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The same interpretation has been followed in the synonymous expressions that occur elsewhere (see the meaning lines in the Display for 2:19b and 5:6a).

life: This word refers primarily to life here on this earth rather than eternal life. It probably connotes a long and prosperous life. See the note on 2:19a–b.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּ֤י

that/for/because/then/when

For here indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: “This is because”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

נֵ֣ר מִ֭צְוָה וְ⁠ת֣וֹרָה א֑וֹר

lamp command and_[the],instruction light

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second clause emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the clauses with a word other than and that shows that the second clause is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “commandment is a lamp, yes, law is a light”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מִ֭צְוָה וְ⁠ת֣וֹרָה

command and_[the],instruction

Here, commandment and law could refer to: (1) the commands of the father and mother, which were referred to in the previous two verses. Alternate translation: “each of my commandments … and your mother’s law” (2) good commandments and laws in general. Alternate translation: “every good commandment … and every good law”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מִ֭צְוָה

command

Solomon is speaking of commandments in general, and he is not speaking of one particular commandment. If it would be helpful in your language, use a more natural phrase. Alternate translation: “every commandment”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מִ֭צְוָה

command

See how you translated the abstract noun “commandments” in [2:1](../02/01.md).

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נֵ֣ר & א֑וֹר

lamp & light

Here Solomon refers to commandment and law enabling people to understand how to live as if they were a lamp and a light that shows people the path in front of them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “enables one to understand … enables one to perceive the right way to live”

Note 7 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

וְ⁠ת֣וֹרָה

and_[the],instruction

See how you translated this use of law in [1:8](../01/08.md).

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

תּוֹכְח֥וֹת מוּסָֽר

reproofs_of discipline

See how you translated the abstract nouns “rebuke” in [1:25](../01/25.md) and instruction in [1:2](../01/02.md).

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

תּוֹכְח֥וֹת מוּסָֽר

reproofs_of discipline

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe rebukes that are included in the instruction process. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “the rebukes that come from instruction”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וְ⁠דֶ֥רֶךְ חַ֝יִּ֗ים

and_[are],a_way_of life(pl)

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe the way that results in life. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “and … are the way that results in life”

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠דֶ֥רֶךְ

and_[are],a_way_of

Here Solomon uses way to refer to how people behave. See how you translated this use of way in [1:15](../01/15.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 6:23

Hebrew word order