PROV 21:4 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Arrogance and pride—the lamp of wicked people,
⇔ → is disobeying Yahweh.

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 Μεγαλόφρων ἐν ὕβρει θρασυκάρδιος, λαμπτὴρ δὲ ἀσεβῶν ἁμαρτία.
(Megalofrōn en hubrei thrasukardios, lamptaʸr de asebōn hamartia. )

BrTr A high-minded man is stout-hearted in his pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.

ULT Height of eyes and broadness of heart,
⇔ the lamp of wicked ones, are sin.

UST Being proud and arrogant guide what wicked people do like a lamp shows people where to go;
⇔ they are sinful.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE A high look and a proud heart,
⇔ the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Haughty eyes and a proud heart –
⇔ the agricultural product of the wicked is sin.

LSV Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart,
Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.

FBV Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.[fn]

21:4 Literally, “Proud eyes and arrogant heart the lamp of the wicked sin.”

T4T ⇔ Being proud and arrogant [DOU] is like a lamp [MTY] that guides wicked people;
⇔ being proud and arrogant characterizes ◄wicked people’s whole behavior/everything that wicked people do►.

LEB • Haughtiness of the eyes and pride of heart, the lamp of the wicked are sin.

BBE A high look and a heart of pride, ***of the evil-doer is sin.

Moff Haughty looks, a proud heart,
⇔ showy splendour--it is all sin.

JPS A haughty look, and a proud heart — the tillage of the wicked is sin.

ASV A high look, and a proud heart,
⇔ Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

DRA Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin.

YLT Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.

Drby Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

RV An high look, and a proud heart, even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

SLT Lifting up the eyes and enlarging the heart, the light of the unjust is sin.

Wbstr A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

KJB-1769 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.[fn][fn]
(An high look, and a proud heart, and the ploughing of the wicked, is sin. )

21.4 An…: Heb. Haughtiness of eyes

21.4 the plowing: or, the light

KJB-1611 [fn][fn]An high looke, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sinne.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)

21:4 Hebr. hautines of eyes.

21:4 Or, the light of the wicked.

Bshps An high looke, a proude heart, and the plowing of the vngodly is sinne.
(An high look, a proud heart, and the ploughing of the ungodly is sin.)

Gnva A hautie looke, and a proude heart, which is the light of the wicked, is sinne.
(A haughty look, and a proud heart, which is the light of the wicked, is sin. )

Cvdl A presumptuous loke, a proude stomacke, & the lanterne of the vngodly is synne.
(A presumptuous loke, a proud stomach, and the lantern of the ungodly is sin.)

Wycl Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
(Enhaunsing of eyes is alarging of the heart; the lantern of wicked men is sin.)

Luth Hoffärtige Augen und stolzer Mut und die Leuchte der GOttlosen ist Sünde.
(Hoffärtige eyes and prouder courage/heart/spirit and the lamp/lantern the/of_the godless_one(s) is sin(n).)

ClVg Exaltatio oculorum est dilatatio cordis; lucerna impiorum peccatum.
(Exaltatio of_the_eyes it_is dilatatio of_the_heart; lamp of_the_wicked sin. )

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

21:4

This proverb uses three figures of speech to describe the pride of a wicked person.

^4aHaughty eyes and a proud heart

^4b—the guides of the wicked—are sin!

The overall meaning is that pride is sinful. It also results in a wicked person doing sinful things.Ross (page 1050), Murphy (pages 157, 165).

21:4a-b

Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.

The arrogant looks and proud thoughts of a wicked person are sins. They are like a lamp that shows people where to go, because they guide/cause him to do wrong things.
Evil people look down on others and their desire to be more important is strong. These sinful thoughts are like a lamp that guides them. They cause/lead them to sin.

21:4a

Haughty eyes and a proud heart: In Hebrew, these two phrases are literally “height of eyes” and “wide of heart.” Both phrases are figures of speech. Here they represent the attitudes of a wicked person.

Haughty eyes: This phrase indicates a haughty and arrogant attitude. It refers to a person who looks down on others.

a proud heart: This phrase can indicate either arrogance/pride or strong ambition. It refers to a person who is overly confident in his own abilities. He also has a strong desire for greater wealth and power.Waltke (page 171), Fox (page 680), Cohen (page 138).

Some other ways to translate these figures of speech are:

Keep the figures of speech or use words that are related to the words “eyes” and “heart.” For example:
A conceited look and an arrogant attitude (GW)
Proud looks, proud thoughts (NCV)
Translate the meaning without using figures of speech. For example:
proud and arrogant (CEV)
look down on other people and long to be more important

21:4b

the guides of the wicked: This phrase is a metaphor that further describes the preceding phrases “haughty eyes” and “a proud heart.” There are several ways to understand the variants of the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as guides.The Masoretic Text vocalizes the defective root nr as nir. (See Fox, page 680). This word has two homonyms, meaning “lamp” and “uncultivated ground.” The root can also be vocalized as ner “lamp.” It is possible that the LXX, Vulgate, and Targum based their translations (“lamp”) on ner rather than nir. An argument against ner “lamp” is that in its four other occurrences in the OT, this word uses “lamp” figuratively to refer to a descendant of David. An argument against nir “uncultivated ground” is that in its two other occurrences, the context is one of repentance, symbolized by breaking up uncultivated ground. That is clearly not the significance of the word here in Proverbs 21:4. See UBS (page 440), Waltke (pages 159, 171), and Fox (page 680) for additional discussion. The notes will discuss only the two main interpretations:An interpretation that has not been described in the notes is the GNT, which may imply the guidance of a lamp, but does not make it explicit. It has: “Wicked people are controlled by their conceit and arrogance, and this is sinful.” Another interpretation is the one taken by the NCV and NLT, both of which have three items that are all identified as sin. Neither one mentions “lamp” or “ground/crop.” The NLT has: “Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.”

The Hebrew word means “lamp.” A lamp shows a person where to go. In the same way, it is implied that a wicked person’s sinful, proud attitudes lead him to commit sinful deeds. For example:
Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the lamp of the wicked—are sin. (NRSV) (BSB, ESV, GW, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV)The BSB has been included here because it expresses a non-figurative meaning of “lamp,” which is “guide.”
The Hebrew word means “uncultivated ground.”The term “uncultivated ground” was chosen to represent this interpretation, because it is mentioned most frequently in the commentaries and lexicons. For example, Waltke (page 159) uses “unplowed field” in his translation. Most of the versions listed here use very different terms. The CEV has “crop.” The NJPS and NAB have “tillage,” which implies either cultivation or a crop. The NET has “agricultural product.” The KJV has “plowing.” These versions have all been listed under this interpretation because they have something to do with ground or a crop as opposed to a lamp. Normally, uncultivated ground produces only weeds. In the same way, a wicked person’s pride produces sin. For example:
Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. (NIV11) (CEV, KJV, NAB, NET, NIV11, NJPS)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The LXX, Vulgate, and Targum all understood the Hebrew word to mean “lamp” rather than “uncultivated ground.” The major lexicons also prefer this interpretation.See BDB (#5216), HALOT (#6166, 6356), HOL (#5531), NIDOTTE (H5775, H5944), and TWOT (1333a, 1333b). HALOT, NIDOTTE, and TWOT do not discuss the figurative significance of “lamp” as it applies to Proverbs 21:4. BDB and HOL differ in their understanding of its significance. But all prefer nir or ner “lamp” to nir “uncultivated ground.”

However, there is good support for both interpretations. So it is recommended that you mention interpretation (2) in a footnote. For example:

In Hebrew, the word that means “lamp” can also mean “uncultivated ground.” So another meaning for this verse is: “The arrogance and pride of a wicked person are like uncultivated/unplowed ground where weeds grow. Their proud attitudes produce sinful deeds.”

are sin: In Hebrew, there is no verb. The BSB and most versions that follow interpretation (1) supply a verb such as are or “is.” The NIV11 supplies the verb “produce.” In some languages, it may be more meaningful to use a phrase such as “produces sin” or “leads to sin,” regardless of the interpretation chosen.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

רוּם־עֵ֭ינַיִם

haughty_of eyes

Here Solomon refers to pride as Height of eyes, which is a characteristic facial expression of proud people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. See how you translated the similar expression “uplifted eyes” in [6:17](../06/17.md). Alternate translation: “Pride”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וּ⁠רְחַב־לֵ֑ב

and,a_[person]_wide_of heart

Here, broadness of heart refers to thinking arrogantly. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and thinking arrogantly”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים

lamp_of wicked

This phrase gives further information about the two sins described in the previous clause. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the relationship between these phrases clearer. Alternate translation: “that is, the lamp of the wicked ones”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor