PROV 29:19 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, red:negative.
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 Λόγοις οὐ παιδευθήσεται οἰκέτης σκληρός· ἐὰν γὰρ καὶ νοήσῃ, ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὑπακούσεται.
(Logois ou paideuthaʸsetai oiketaʸs sklaʸros; ean gar kai noaʸsaʸ, allʼ ouⱪ hupakousetai. )

BrTr A stubborn servant will not be reproved by words: for even if he understand, still he will not obey.

ULT A servant will not be instructed by words,
⇔ for he understands, but there is no answer.

UST You cannot correct servants by only speaking to them
⇔ because they will not do what you say even though they understand what you say.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE A servant can’t be corrected by words.
⇔ Though he understands, yet he will not respond.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET A servant cannot be corrected by words,
⇔ for although he understands, there is no answer.

LSV By words a servant is not instructed though he understand,
And there is nothing answering.

FBV A servant can't be disciplined by words alone; though they understand, they don't follow what they're told.

T4T ⇔ It is not possible to correct/discipline servants only by talking to them;
⇔ they understand what you are saying, but they do not pay attention to it.

LEB • By words, a servant is not disciplined, for he will understand, but there is no giving heed.

BBE A servant will not be trained by words; for though the sense of the words is clear to him, he will not give attention.

Moff Mere words will never train a slave;
⇔ he understands, but he will not obey.

JPS A servant will not be corrected by words; for though he understand, there will be no response.

ASV A servant will not be corrected by words;
⇔ For though he understand, he will not give heed.

DRA A slave will not be corrected by words: because he understandeth what thou sayest, and will not answer.

YLT By words a servant is not instructed though he understand, And there is nothing answering.

Drby A servant is not corrected by words: he understandeth indeed, but he will not answer.

RV A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not give heed.

SLT A servant will not be corrected by words: for he will understand and not answer.

Wbstr A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understandeth, he will not answer.

KJB-1769 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

KJB-1611 A seruant will not be corrected by words: for though hee vnderstand, hee will not answere.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps A stubbourne seruaunt wyll not be the better for wordes: for though he vnderstande, yet will he not regarde them.
(A stubbourne servant will not be the better for words: for though he understand, yet will he not regard them.)

Gnva A seruant will not be chastised with words: though he vnderstand, yet he will not answere.
(A servant will not be chastised with words: though he understand, yet he will not answer. )

Cvdl A seruaut wil not be the better for wordes, for though he vnderstonde, yet wil he not regarde them.
(A servant will not be the better for words, for though he understood, yet will he not regard them.)

Wycl A seruaunt mai not be tauyt bi wordis; for he vndirstondith that that thou seist, and dispisith for to answere.
(A servant may not be taught by words; for he understandeth/understands that that thou/you sayest/say, and despiseth/despises for to answer.)

Luth Ein Knecht läßt sich mit Worten nicht züchtigen; denn ob er‘s gleich verstehet, nimmt er sich‘s doch nicht an.
(A servant/farmhand lets itself/yourself/themselves with words not chastise; because/than if/whether he's even understands, takes he itself though/but not at/to.)

ClVg Servus verbis non potest erudiri, quia quod dicis intelligit, et respondere contemnit.
(Servus with_words not/no can erudiri, because that you_say understands, and to_answer despises. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. These proverbs were organized and copied by men who served King Hezekiah. Most scholars divide this section into two groups. These groups differ in several ways.

The first group (chapters 25–27) has many more comparisons and admonitions. In Hebrew, most of these comparisons are metaphors in which one or more illustrations precede the topic. Some English versions change the order so that the topic precedes the illustration(s). You should follow the order that expresses the meaning naturally and effectively in your language.

In the first group, many proverbs are one verse long. As with the individual proverbs in the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (Section 10:1–22:16), they are not related to the proverbs around them. Other proverbs in this group are two or more verses long. Still others are one-verse proverbs that are closely related in theme. Proverbs in all three categories will be marked as separate paragraphs.

The second group (chapters 28–29) has more contrastive proverbs. The proverbs in this group are each one verse long. They will not be marked as separate paragraphs.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah (NET)

These are also wise things that Solomon said

29:19

This proverb teaches that words are not adequate to correct the behavior of a servant who displeases his master. This general principle is true even though the servant understands the words.

^19aA servant cannot be corrected by words alone;

^19bthough he understands, he will not respond.

29:19a

A servant cannot be corrected by words alone;

Words are not enough to correct/change the wrong behavior of a servant.
If you^(sing) use only words to rebuke/discipline a slave when he has done something wrong, it is useless.

A servant cannot be corrected by words alone: The word that the BSB translates here as corrected often refers to moral instruction or training. Here it refers to correction or discipline. The context implies that the servant either did something wrong or else failed to do what his master ordered him to do. It also implies that physical punishment is necessary to force him to obey.

servant: The word servant probably refers to a household slave. Such slaves were usually owned by their masters and were under their authority. Many English versions translate the same word as “slave” in 29:21 (although the BSB translates it as “servant” there). You may use whatever word is appropriate in your language.

alone: The word alone does not occur in Hebrew, but it is strongly implied in the context.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

Servants cannot be corrected by mere words (NIV)

You cannot correct servants just by talking to them. (GNT)

Words are not enough to teach a slave.A translation suggestion in UBS.

29:19b

though he understands, he will not respond.

He can understand what his master says, but he will not heed his words.
It is easy for him to understand your^(sing) words, but if you do not punish him, he will not obey you^(sing).

though he understands, he will not respond: The clause he will not respond is literally “there is no answer.” It means that the servant will not obey or change his wrong behavior. It does not mean that he remains quiet. Some other ways to translate this line are:

though he may comprehend, he does not respond (NJPS)

for he understands what is said, but obeys not (NAB)

They may understand you, but they will pay no attention. (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

עָ֑בֶד & יָ֝בִ֗ין

servant & understands

A servant and he refer to servants in general, not a specific servant. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “Any servant … that person understands”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

לֹא־יִוָּ֣סֶר עָ֑בֶד

not disciplined servant

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “No one will instruct a servant”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בִּ֭⁠דְבָרִים

by,words

See how you translated the similar use of words in [1:23](../01/23.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מַעֲנֶֽה

respond

See how you translated the abstract noun answer in [15:1](../15/01.md).

Parallel PROV 29:19

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

29:19

29:19a

29:19b