PROV 16:24 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: .
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Κηρία μέλιτος λόγοι καλοί, γλύκασμα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἴασις ψυχῆς.
(Kaʸria melitos logoi kaloi, glukasma de autou iasis psuⱪaʸs. )

BrTr Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.

ULT Words of pleasantness are a honeycomb of honey,
⇔ sweet to the soul and healing to the bone.

UST The pleasing things that people say are like a honeycomb:
⇔ They cause people to feel pleasant and healthy.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
⇔ sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
⇔ sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

LSV Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.

FBV Kind words are like a honeycomb—they taste sweet and are healthy for the body.

T4T ⇔ Kind words are like honey [SIM]:
⇔ We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.

LEB • Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.

BBE Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.

Moff Kindly words are like a honeycomb,
⇔ both sweet and healthful.
¶ 

JPS Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

ASV Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,
⇔ Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

DRA Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

YLT Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.

Drby Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health for the bones.

RV Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

SLT Words of pleasantness an, honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.

Wbstr Pleasant words are as a honey-comb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

KJB-1769 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

KJB-1611 Pleasant words are as an honycombe, sweete to the soule, and health to the bones.
(Pleasant words are as an honeycombe, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.)

Bshps Fayre wordes are an hony combe, a refresshyng of the mynde, and health of the bones.
(Fayre words are an honeycomb, a refresshing of the mind, and health of the bones.)

Gnva Faire wordes are as an hony combe, sweetenesse to the soule, and health to the bones.
(Faire words are as an honeycomb, sweeteness to the soul, and health to the bones. )

Cvdl Fayre wordes are an hony combe, a refreshinge of ye mynde, & health of ye bones.
(Fayre words are an honeycomb, a refreshinge of ye/you_all mind, and health of ye/you_all bones.)

Wycl Wordis wel set togidere is a coomb of hony; helthe of boonys is the swetnesse of soule.
(Wordis well set together is a coomb of honey; health of bones is the sweetness of soul.)

Luth Die Reden des Freundlichen sind Honigseim, trösten die SeeLE und erfrischen die Gebeine.
(The Reden the friendlichen are honeycomb, comfort(v) the soul and erfrischen the bones.)

ClVg Favus mellis composita verba; dulcedo animæ sanitas ossium.[fn]
(Honeycomb honey composita words; sweet/pleasantlydo soul health bone. )

16.24 Favus mellis composita verba, etc. Multi per eloquentiam, etc., usque ad quæ ex interna animæ dulcedine procedunt.

16.24 Honeycomb honey composita words, etc. Multi through eloquentiam, etc., until to which from internal soul sweetness they_proceed.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

16:24

The first line of this proverb is a metaphor. The second line explains the similarity between pleasant words and a honeycomb.

^24aPleasant words are a honeycomb,

^24bsweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

16:24a

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Pleasant/kind words are like honey dripping from a honeycomb.
Good/pleasing words are like honey

Pleasant words are a honeycomb: This metaphor compares kind, gracious, or helpful words to a honeycomb. For the phrase Pleasant words, see the note on 15:26b.

honeycomb: The Hebrew expression that is used here is not the usual word for honeycomb. It refers to a honeycomb that is full or overflowing with honey.This is an unusual compound term that “denotes an overflowing mass of honey” (Waltke, 2005, page 30). This idea is expressed by the REB, although it does not make explicit the word honeycomb. It has:

Kind words are like dripping honey

In some languages, it may be awkward to express the full meaning of the Hebrew expression. Another way to translate it is to use a more general term. For example:

Gracious words are like a honeycomb (ESV)

Pleasant words are like honey from a honeycomb (GW)

Kind words are like honey (GNT)

The point of the metaphor is the helpful qualities of the honey, not the amount of honey in the comb.

16:24b

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

They make those who hear them feel happy/cheerful and healthy/strong.
that is sweet and also gives/restores good health.

sweet to the soul: Honey has a sweet taste. Similarly, pleasant words are sweet to the soul. This phrase indicates that they encourage people and make them happy.

and healing to the bones: Honey also restores physical strength and health. Similarly, pleasant words have a healing and strengthening effect on a person’s whole being. See 15:30b, which expresses a similar idea.

Some other ways to express the meaning of this line are:

making people happy and healthy (NCV)

they cheer you up and make you feel strong (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

צוּף־דְּ֭בַשׁ

Tsuf honey

Here Solomon is speaking of words of pleasantness* as if they were A dripping of honey. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “extremely pleasing” or “pleasing like a honeycomb”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
אִמְרֵי־נֹ֑עַם

words_of pleasant

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe words that are characterized by pleasantness. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. See how you translated words of pleasantness in [15:26](../15/26.md). Alternate translation: “pleasant words”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
מָת֥וֹק לַ֝⁠נֶּפֶשׁ וּ⁠מַרְפֵּ֥א לָ⁠עָֽצֶם

sweet to,soul and,healing to,bone[s]

Solomon is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a clause would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from the context if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “words that are sweet to the soul and healing to the bone”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche
מָת֥וֹק לַ֝⁠נֶּפֶשׁ

sweet to,soul

Here, soul refers to the whole person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “pleasing to a person”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche
וּ⁠מַרְפֵּ֥א לָ⁠עָֽצֶם

and,healing to,bone[s]

Here, bone refers to a person’s whole body. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. See how you translated a similar use of bone in [15:30](../15/30.md). Alternate translation: “healing to the body”

Parallel PROV 16:24

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

16:24

16:24a

16:24b