PROV 8:35 Interlinear View

8:35 OSHB variant note: מצאי: (x-qere) ’מָצָ֣א’: lemma_4672 morph_HVqp3ms id_204Th מָצָ֣א

8:35 OSHB note: Yathir readings in L which we have designated as Qeres when both Dothan and BHS list a Qere.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–36: Wisdom calls out to people and reminds them of the benefits of being wise

In contrast to the previous section describing the adulterous woman, this section describes personified Wisdom. The public setting for Wisdom’s speech is described in 8:1–3. In 8:4–11, she addresses all mankind and describes her own character. In 8:12–21, she provides reasons why people should choose her. Additional motivation is given in 8:22–31: Wisdom was with the LORD when he created the world. The section ends with Wisdom appealing to mankind to follow her teaching (8:32–36).

This section is a speech by personified Wisdom. As in Wisdom’s speech in 1:20–33, the Notes have used a capital letter for Wisdom in most verses. However, in her speech, Wisdom sometimes refers to “wisdom” as an ability that people have or use or should try to obtain. In some of these contexts, the Notes have used small letters for “wisdom.” The Display will often give more than one option. You may use either option in your language, depending on what is appropriate in each context.

Some other headings for this section are:

Wisdom’s Call (NIV)

Listen to Wisdom (NCV)

The good qualities of Wisdom

Wisdom’s second invitation to people

Paragraph 8:32–36

This paragraph concludes Wisdom’s speech with a final appeal that people follow her teaching. If they do, they will be blessed with life and with the LORD’s favor. If they refuse, the result will be harm and death.

8:35

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^35aFor whoever finds me finds life

^35band obtains the favor of the LORD.

The parallel parts both describe the reason why the person described in 8:34 will be happy. This reason is introduced by the word “For.”

8:35a

For whoever finds me finds life

For the person who attains/gains me attains/gains life
The reason he is happy is that the person who finds me and becomes wise will also experience a good life,

For whoever finds me finds life: In this context, the verbs that the BSB translates as finds mean “to attain,” “obtain,” or “gain.” They do not imply finding something accidentally.This is brought out by Murphy (page 54). Some other ways to translate the phrase whoever finds me are:

whoever obtains me

whoever becomes wise

Another way to translate the phrase finds life is:

experiences a good life

life: The word life connotes here a good, long, or prosperous life. See the note on 2:19a–b.

8:35b

and obtains the favor of the LORD.

and will experience kindness/compassion that comes from Yahweh.
and Yahweh is pleased with him.
and Yahweh will show him kindness.

and obtains the favor of the LORD: The word favor also means “goodwill” or “acceptance.”BDB (#7522) and NIDOTTE (H8356) both suggest “goodwill” as one of the definitions of this Hebrew word. UBS (page 198) suggests “acceptance.” Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

The Lord will be pleased with them (NCV)

wins approval from the Lord (NLT96)

This favor is not only an attitude in the LORD’s mind. It implies that the LORD treats people who listen to Wisdom favorably. He shows kindness to them.NIDOTTE (H8356) comments that raṣon “is the divine goodwill that reaches out to others in mercy and compassion.” Murphy (page 54) stresses that “favor” is “not merely a divine attitude.” Toy, page 180 agrees, saying that God shows goodwill, friendliness, favor.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּ֣י

that/for/because/then/when

For here indicates that what follows is a reason why someone who listens to Wisdom will be happy, as stated in the previous verse. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: “That man will be happy because”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

מֹצְאַי

(Some words not found in UHB: that/for/because/then/when finding=me finds life(pl) and,he_obtained favour from,Yahweh )

Here, learning wisdom is spoken of as if wisdom were a person whom someone could find. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. See how you translated a similar phrase in [3:13](../03/13.md) and [8:17](../08/17.md). Alternate translation: “those who attain wisdom” or “those who become wise”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

מֹצְאֵי חַיִּ֑ים

(Some words not found in UHB: that/for/because/then/when finding=me finds life(pl) and,he_obtained favour from,Yahweh )

Having a good life is spoken of as if life were an object that a person can find by searching for it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “are those who will have good lives”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

וַ⁠יָּ֥פֶק

and,he_obtained

Although the term he is masculine, Wisdom is using the word in a generic sense that could refer to either a man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: “and that person obtains”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

רָ֝צ֗וֹן

favour

See how you translated favor in [3:4](../03/04.md).

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

8:35 OSHB variant note: מצאי: (x-qere) ’מָצָ֣א’: lemma_4672 morph_HVqp3ms id_204Th מָצָ֣א

8:35 OSHB note: Yathir readings in L which we have designated as Qeres when both Dothan and BHS list a Qere.

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.