Parallel PROV 24:24

24:24

Notice the parallel parts in the second line that are similar in meaning:

^24aWhoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—

^24b peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;

The second line describes the reaction of many people to the judge’s verdict in the first line. It is implied from the preceding context (24:23b) that the judge showed partiality when he declared the guilty person to be innocent.

24:24a

Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”: In Hebrew, the words guilty and innocent are often translated as “wicked” and “righteous.” Here, in the context of a court case, the first word refers to someone who has committed a crime. The judge announces that this wicked person is innocent. In other words, the judge gives a verdict of “not guilty.”

In Hebrew and in the BSB, the judge’s words to the guilty person are in the form of a direct quote. In some languages, it may be more natural to use an indirect quote. For example:

A judge who pronounces the guilty innocent (REB)

Another option is to describe the judge’s action without referring explicitly to his words. For example:

When a judge acquits a person who has committed a crime

If you let the guilty go free (CEV)

24:24b

peoples…nations: In Hebrew, these parallel words both refer to large groups of people. Either word can refer to the people of communities, tribes, or nations. They can also refer to the general public.UBS (page 532), Waltke (page 291). Together these words emphasize groups of people all over the world.Whybray (page 354). Here is another way to translate this:

many people…the nations (NLT)

You may use any terms in your language that refer to similar groups of people.

will curse him…will denounce him: In this context, these parallel verb phrases refer to the same response. People will express intense anger when a judge acquits a guilty person.

curse: In Hebrew, this word usually refers to a formal pronouncement that something bad will happen to someone.Nine of the thirteen occurrences of this word in the OT are found in Numbers, where they refer to a formal curse. For example, in Numbers 23:7–8, Balaam was asked to invoke a curse upon the Israelites. In that passage, the verb “denounce” (zaʿam) is also used as a poetic parallel to “curse” (qabab). Here, it probably indicates that people will say bad things about the judge. It probably also implies that they expect the LORD to punish him.Murphy (page 185). See how you translated this word in 11:26, where it has a similar meaning.

denounce: In Hebrew, this word refers both to extreme anger and to the way that God or people express that anger. Here it probably indicates that people will express their anger or indignation with words.The ESV, NRSV, and NASB have “abhorred” or “abhor” here. The GNT and NCV have “hated” and “hate,” respectively. Many English speakers understand “hatred/abhorrence” primarily as a feeling or attitude. None of the lexicons consulted (BDB, TWOT, NIDOTTE, HALOT) defined this Hebrew verb (zaʿam) as a feeling of hatred or abhorrence. BDB (#2194) identified the meaning in Proverbs 24:24 as “express indignation in speech, denounce, curse.” TWOT (#568) used almost identical terms. It commented that “the basic idea is experiencing or expressing intense anger.” NIDOTTE (H2404) used the glosses “be angry, curse.” HALOT (#2542) had “to curse, scold.” They will openly criticize what the judge has done. Some other ways to translate this word are:

revile (NJB)

say that he has acted disgracefully

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder one or more of the parallel pairs in 24:24b. For example:

people everywhere will make known their anger

people of all nations will criticize you for your disgraceful deed