PROV 1:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

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

Key: khaki:verbs.
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 Νοήσει τε παραβολὴν καὶ σκοτεινὸν λόγον, ῥήσεις τε σοφῶν καὶ αἰνίγματα.
(Noaʸsei te parabolaʸn kai skoteinon logon, ɽaʸseis te sofōn kai ainigmata. )

BrTr and will understand a parable, and a dark speech; the sayings of the wise also, and riddles.

ULT to understand a proverb and a parable,
⇔ the words of the wise ones and their riddles.

UST These wise sayings are for understanding wise sayings and parables.
⇔ Indeed, they are for understanding what wise people say and the riddles they tell.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE to understand a proverb and parables,
⇔ the words and riddles of the wise.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable,
⇔ the sayings of the wise and their riddles.

LSV For understanding a proverb and its sweetness,
Words of the wise and their acute sayings.

FBV understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.

T4T Then they will be able to understand the meaning of proverbs and parables/metaphors,
⇔ these wise sayings and ◄riddles/sayings that are difficult to understand►.

LEB • to understand a proverb and an expression, words of wisdom and their riddles.

BBE To get the sense of wise sayings and secrets, and of the words of the wise and their dark sayings.

Moff for understanding maxims and parables,
⇔ the sentences of sages and their aphorisms.

JPS To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

ASV To understand a proverb, and a figure,
⇔ The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

DRA He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.

YLT For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.

Drby to understand a proverb and an allegory, the words of the wise and their enigmas.

RV To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

SLT To understand a proverb, and an enigma: the words of the wise and their parables.

Wbstr To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

KJB-1769 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.[fn]

1.6 the interpretation: or, an eloquent speech

KJB-1611 To vnderstand a prouerbe, and [fn]the interpretation; the wordes of the wise, and their darke sayings.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)

1:6 Or, an eloquent speach.

Bshps To vnderstande a parable, and the interpretation therof, the wordes of the wise, and their darke speaches.
(To understand a parable, and the interpretation thereof, the words of the wise, and their dark speeches.)

Gnva To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
(To understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of ye/you_all wise, and their dark sayings. )

Cvdl he shal be more apte to vnderstonde a parable, and the interpretacion therof: the wordes of the wyse, and the darcke speaches of the same.
(he shall be more apt to understood a parable, and the interpretation thereof: the words of the wise, and the dark speeches of the same.)

Wycl He schal perseyue a parable, and expownyng; the wordis of wise men, and the derk figuratif spechis of hem.
(He shall perceive a parable, and expounding; the words of wise men, and the dark figurative speeches of hem.)

Luth daß er vernehme die Sprüche und ihre Deutung, die Lehre der Weisen und ihre Beispiele.
(that he hear the sayings and their/her interpretation, the teaching the/of_the ways/manners and their/her examples.)

ClVg Animadvertet parabolam et interpretationem, verba sapientum et ænigmata eorum.
(He_will_notice parable and interpretation, words wise_men and riddles their. )

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Wisdom

Wisdom helps us know how to speak and act in different situations. It provides the ability to avoid problems as well as the skill to handle them when they arise. Wisdom goes beyond simple intelligence. Proverbs notes that even animals such as ants, hyraxes, locusts, and lizards (Prov 30:24-28) are wise. This is not because they have great intelligence but because they know how to navigate life skillfully.

The foundation of wisdom is God himself. No wisdom exists apart from fear of the Lord (1:7). Wisdom is closely connected to righteousness and remains distant from evil. According to Proverbs, wisdom is gained through observation and experience (6:6-8), from instruction based on tradition (22:17-21), in learning from mistakes (12:1), and finally, but most importantly, through divine revelation (see 1:7).

In 1 Corinthians 1–2, Paul contrasts the “wisdom” of the world (which he calls foolishness) with the wisdom of Christ. Paul also says of Jesus, “In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). The wisdom that comes from God is evidenced in the lives of believers by their goodness, humility, purity, and peace (Jas 3:13-18).

Passages for Further Study

Deut 1:13-18; 4:5-8; 1 Kgs 3:1-28; Job 12:12; 28:20-28; Pss 90:12; 119:98; Prov 1:7; 2:1-22; 30:24-28; Eccl 2:12-16; 7:4-19; Isa 11:1-2; Jer 9:23-24; 10:12; Hos 14:9; Luke 7:35; 1 Cor 3:18-20; Jas 1:5; 3:13-17; Rev 7:12

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–7: This is the purpose of Proverbs

This section is the writer’s introduction to the book of Proverbs. It contains an overall title for the book (1:1), a statement of purpose (1:2–6), and a motto or key verse (1:7). In Hebrew, the first six verses form a single sentence that gives related goals or functions for the proverbs. Proverbs 1:2a, 1:2b, 1:3a, 1:4a, and 1:6a all begin with a verb phrase that relates back to the title and gives one of the functions. The BSB translates these phrases as: “for gaining…, for comprehending…, for receiving…. To impart…, by understanding….” Proverbs 1:5 begins with a different grammatical construction. Several scholars therefore consider this verse to be a parenthesis, clarifying that the proverbs are also useful to people who are wise.

Some other headings for this section are:

The Purpose of Proverbs (NLT)

How Proverbs Can Be Used (CEV)

The Importance of Proverbs (NCV)

1:6

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^6aby understanding proverbs and parables,

^6b the sayings and riddles of the wise.

There is an ellipsis in 1:6b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 1:6a. For example:

^6b by understanding the sayings and riddles of the wise

There are two main ways to interpret the connection of 1:6:The first interpretation is supported by Scott (page 35) and Whybray (page 31). Whybray says, “the title is integrally related to 1:2–4, 6 in that the infinitives with which each of these verses begins cannot stand alone: they are syntactically dependent on 1:1.” Delitzsch (page 57) and Ross (page 906) both connect 1:6 to 1:2b, but agree with the first interpretation in that they understand 1:6 to refer to people in general. A possible argument against #1 (not mentioned in any commentaries) is that it seems awkward to say that the proverbs (1:1) will help people to understand proverbs, etc. (1:6). Interpretation #2 is followed by most versions, but is supported only by Fox (pages 62–63), who says that 1:6 “lists activities appropriate to advanced study, not to the education of the immature.…by study of Solomon’s proverbs, the learned man will master interpretive skills.” But Fox (page 58) seems to contradict this view by saying that “the series of infinitival clauses is dependent on the title.” Evidently he doesn’t include the infinitive clause of 1:6 in the series. An argument against #2, as stated by Toy (pages 5–6), is that it seems incongruous to advise “a sage to learn to understand the words of sages.” Toy understands 1:5 as a parenthesis, which if omitted, would result in “a symmetrical paragraph of two quatrains: 2,3 “that men may acquire wisdom,” and 4,6 “that the immature may be educated into understanding the discourses of the sages.” He thus connects 1:6 with the immature readers of 1:4. The BSB and NLT represent yet another view, in which 1:6 connects to the wise of 1:5, but as a means rather than a purpose: “by…”

Proverbs 1:6 connects back to 1:1 as one of the four purposes of the proverbs. It applies to people in general. The NIV indicates this by setting off 1:5 with dashes as a parenthesis. The NJB reorders 1:6 before 1:5 so that the four purpose statements are not interrupted by the parenthetical command in 1:5. Here is another way to translate this:
Then anyone can understand wise words… (NCV) (NIV, NJB, NCV, NET)
Proverbs 1:6 connects back to 1:5 as a purpose for the wise to add to their knowledge. For example:
so that they can understand… (GNT) (GNT, CEV, RSV, REB, NAB)
Proverbs 1:6 connects back to 1:5 as a means by which the wise add to their knowledge. For example:
by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables… (NLT) (BSB, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it follows the pattern of each Hebrew purpose clause relating equally to the title in 1:1. It also seems more reasonable to think that the book of Proverbs would help all readers, not only the wise, to understand parables, riddles, and other wise sayings.

1:6a

by understanding the proverbs and parables,

A final purpose of these parables is that people will be able to understand proverbs and parables,
Finally, this advice/teaching will help you^(plur)/us^(incl) to understand wise sayings and illustrations,

parables: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as parables is used only three times in the Old Testament. It probably refers to any figurative saying that is difficult to understand unless someone interprets its meaning. It may include shorter sayings, such as metaphors, or longer sayings, such as parables. Some other ways to translate this word are:

obscure sayings (NJB)

clever saying (GW)

stories (NCV)

figures (NRSV)

1:6b

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

and the sayings and riddles of those who are wise.
and the words and puzzling sayings of wise people.

the sayings and riddles of the wise: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as the sayings and riddles of the wise is literally “sayings of the wise and their riddles.” Both sayings and riddles come from the wise.

riddles: The Hebrew word has a broader meaning than the English word riddles. It refers to any puzzling saying or difficult question that needs to be interpreted or answered.

General Comment on 1:6a–b

The four terms listed in these verse parts overlap in meaning. In some languages, the same range of meaning may be expressed by fewer or more terms.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

לְ⁠הָבִ֣ין מָ֭שָׁל וּ⁠מְלִיצָ֑ה דִּבְרֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים וְ⁠חִידֹתָֽ⁠ם

to,understand proverb and,a_parable words_of wise and,their_of,parables

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second clause emphasizes the meaning of the first clause by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word that indicates that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “to understand a proverb and a parable, yes, to understand the words of the wise ones and their riddles”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

לְ⁠הָבִ֣ין מָ֭שָׁל וּ⁠מְלִיצָ֑ה

to,understand proverb and,a_parable

Here, to indicates a fifth purpose for these proverbs. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. You may want to begin a new sentence. Alternate translation: “These proverbs are for the purpose of understanding a proverb and a parable”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מָ֭שָׁל וּ⁠מְלִיצָ֑ה

proverb and,a_parable

Here, a proverb and a parable refer to these things in general, not to a specific proverb and parable. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use expressions that would be more natural in your language. Alternate translation: “any proverb and any parable”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

דִּבְרֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים

words_of wise

The author is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the previous clause. Alternate translation: “to understand the words of the wise ones”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

דִּבְרֵ֥י

words_of

Here, the author uses the term words to describe what the wise ones say by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the sayings of”

Parallel PROV 1:6

Section 1:1–7: This is the purpose of Proverbs

1:6

1:6a

1:6b

General Comment on 1:6a–b