PROV 30:5 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, blue:Elohim.
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).

ULT Every saying of God is refined;
⇔ he is a shield for those who take refuge in him.

UST Everything that God says is true;
⇔ he is like a shield that protects people who trust him to protect them.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE ⇔ “Every word of God is flawless.
⇔ He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Every word of God is purified;
⇔ he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.

LSV Every saying of God [is] tried,
He [is] a shield to those trusting in Him.

FBV Every word God says has been proved true. He defends everyone who comes to him for protection.

T4T ⇔ Everything that God has said is true;
⇔ he is like a shield [MET] for all those who request him to protect them.

LEB • Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield for him who takes refuge in him.

BBE Every word of God is tested: he is a breastplate to those who put their faith in him.

Moff God’s promises are all tried and true;
⇔ those who shelter beside him he shields.

JPS Every word of God is tried; He is a shield unto them that take refuge in Him.

ASV ⇔ Every word of God is tried:
⇔ He is a shield unto them that take refuge in him.

DRA Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to them that hope in him.

YLT Every saying of God [is] tried, A shield He [is] to those trusting in Him.

Drby Every word of [fn]God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

30.5 Eloah

RV Every word of God is tried: he is a shield unto them that trust in him.

SLT All the word of God is purified: he a shield to those trusting in him.

Wbstr Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him.

KJB-1769 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.[fn]

30.5 pure: Heb. purified

KJB-1611 [fn]Euery word of God is pure: he is a shield vnto them that put their trust in him.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)

30:5 Heb. purified.

Bshps Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shielde vnto all them that put their trust in hym.
(Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto all them that put their trust in him.)

Gnva Euery worde of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him.
(Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to those, that trust in him. )

Cvdl All the wordes of God are pure & cleane, for he is a shylde vnto all them, that put their trust in him.
(All the words of God are pure and clean, for he is a shield unto all them, that put their trust in him.)

Wycl Ech word of God is a scheld set a fiere, to alle that hopen in hym.
(Each word of God is a shield set a fiere, to all that hoping in him.)

Luth Alle Worte Gottes sind durchläutert und sind ein Schild denen, die auf ihn trauen.
(All words God’s are throughläutert and are a shield/sign(n) those, the on/in/to him/it trust.)

ClVg Omnis sermo Dei ignitus: clypeus est sperantibus in se.[fn]
(Everyone speech of_God firetus: shield it_is to_those_who_hope in/into/on himself. )

30.5 Omnis sermo. Proprietatem Græci nominis, etc., usque ad vera enim omnia et ignita. Clypeus est, id est protector omnium sperantium in se. Clypeus contra hostium insidias et omnia adversa.

30.5 Everyone speech. Proprietatem Græci of_the_name, etc., until to true because everything and fireta. Clypeus it_is, that it_is protector of_all they_hopeium in/into/on himself. Clypeus on_the_contrary enemy ambush and everything adversa.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 30:1–33: Here are the sayings of Agur

This section is a collection of verses that were written or organized by Agur the son of Jakeh.Some scholars think that Agur wrote or collected only verses 1–4, 1–6, 1–9, or 1–14. UBS (page 617), Toy (page 518), and Longman (page 513) are among those who list some of these possibilities. The GNT indicates with quotation marks that Agur’s words end after v.6. No other versions indicate that Agur’s words end before the end of the chapter. Waltke (volume I, page 26) strongly defends the entire chapter as the “oracle” of Agur on the basis of its structural unity. Kidner (page 178) divides the chapter into two sections (1–9) and (10–33), but identifies both as coming from “the sage.” The title of this section (30:1a) is the only place in Scripture that Agur is mentioned. The section is divided into paragraphs that vary from one to five verses. The Notes will suggest a paragraph heading for all paragraphs after 30:1a. It is suggested that you use similar headings in your translation to help the readers follow the changes of topic and audience.

The first nine verses contain Agur’s personal thoughts and prayers. Some are addressed to God, others to his audience. The rest of the chapter contains proverbs on various topics. Some are individual warnings or statements (30:10, 17, 20, 32–33). Others contain several kinds of lists of four items each. The lists in verses 15b–16, 18–19, 21–23, and 29–31 have the same form as the numerical proverb in 6:16–19. (See the paragraph summary for 6:16–19 and the notes on 6:16a–b.) The lists in verses 11–14 and 24–28 have different forms. These will be described in the paragraph summaries where they first occur.

Some other headings for this section are:

The Words of Agur (ESV)

Wise Words from Agur (NCV)

Words that the LORD caused Agur to make known

30:5

The overall meaning of this proverb is that people can rely on both God’s words and his protection.

^5a“Every word of God is flawless;

^5bHe is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

This verse is almost identical to the last two lines of 2 Samuel 22:31 and Psalm 18:30. These two verses both have:

the word of the LORD is flawless.

He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

30:5a

Every word of God is flawless;

¶ People have confirmed that everything God said is right/correct and true.
¶ The things that happen to people show them that everything in the written words of God is true. There is nothing false.
¶ People can rely on God’s written words, because they are entirely true. They are not mixed with any lies. They are like pure gold that was cleaned/melted in the fire.

Every word of God is flawless: In Hebrew, the phrase Every word of God refers to every statement that God made known. It refers especially to the words that he caused to be written in the OT.Fox (page 850) understands “All of God’s words” to refer to “God’s revealed word.” Cohen (page 202) further clarifies this phrase as “all that he has communicated through Moses and the prophets.” Murphy (page 229) defines it as “the revelation of Eloah, presumably in the torah.” There are two ways to interpret the phrase Every word:

It refers to everything that God said. For example:
Everything God says (CEV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)
It refers specifically to every promise that God made. For example:
God’s every promise (REB) (REB, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars. The statements of God in the OT include commands, rebukes, and instructions, as well as promises. There is nothing in the context that limits this phrase to promises.TWOT (#118b) glosses this word as “word, utterance, speech, saying.” Waltke (page 476) says that 30:5a refers to “the truthfulness of God’s teachings.” Fox (page 850) gives the literal form as “the entire utterance of God.” Longman (page 523) translates it as “All the speeches of God.” None of these definitions or renderings suggests that the meaning should be restricted to every “promise.”

This line is a metaphor that compares Every word of God to precious metal that has been refined and is thus flawless. The similarities between them are:

Both have been tested. The metal has been tested by the refining process. God’s words have been tested by people’s experience. Their experience shows that everything God said is reliable.
Both are entirely pure. Refined metal contains no impurities. God’s words contain nothing false. Nothing in his words deceive people. They are entirely accurate and true.

Some other ways to translate this metaphor are:

Focus on one or both of the similarities. Notice that the English versions quoted below leave the details of the refining process implied.An exception is the NJB, which uses the word “unalloyed.” The NJB translates the same Hebrew word in the parallel passages in 2 Samuel and Psalm 18 as “refined in the furnace.” For example:
Every word of God is tested (NASB)
Every word of God has proven to be true. (GW)
Everything God says is true (CEV)
Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit one or more details implied by the comparison to metal refining. For example:
What people have experienced shows that all of God’s words are true and reliable. They contain nothing that is false. They are like gold that has been melted in the fire to remove everything that is not pure gold.

God: The Hebrew word for God (ʾeloah) that is used here occurs only once in Proverbs. Elsewhere it occurs mostly in poetry. There is no difference in meaning between this word and other words that English versions translate as “God.”See Vine (pages 96–97), Waltke (page 476), Murphy (page 226). The word ʾeloah occurs far less frequently than other terms for God such as ʾel and ʾelohim. It is used as a parallel term for these words as well as for the personal name of God, Yahweh, in 2 Samuel 22:29–33 and Psalm 18:28–32.

flawless: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as flawless normally refers to metal, especially precious metal such as silver or gold, which has been refined to remove all impurities. The metal ore is heated in a furnace until it melts. The impurities float to the top and are removed, leaving nothing but the pure metal.

30:5b

He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

He is like a shield for those who trust him to protect them.
When they/people rely on him/God to keep them safe from danger, he is like a shield that protects a soldier.
God guards/protects people who consider him to be like a sturdy, safe place to hide. No danger/enemies can reach them.

He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him: This line has two metaphors. In the first metaphor, God is compared to a shield that protects a soldier in battle. In the second metaphor, God is compared to a place of refuge where people go to be safe from danger. Some other ways to translate these closely related metaphors are:

Change one or both metaphors to a simile. For example:
He is like a shield for all who seek his protection. (GNT)
Translate the meaning of one or both metaphors without using a figure of speech. For example:
He guards those who come to him for safety. (NCV)

Parallel PROV 30:5

Section 30:1–33: Here are the sayings of Agur

30:5

30:5a

30:5b