Proverbs 1:1-6
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
The Words
The point of this paper is to analyze the meanings of this technical vocabulary and produce an interpretive paraphrase.
Proverbs – The Hebrew word for proverb, found in 37 verses throughout the Old Testament, receives several different translations: parable (17x), proverb (12x), proverbs (5x), byword (1x), parables (1x), and to use as a proverb (1x). The term is used in Numbers 23 and 24, translated parable, to refer to the versified speeches of Balaam and Balak. These speeches actually seem to have little to do with the modern English notion of either parables or proverbs. In Job 29 it is said that Job continued his parable; in fact, Job seems to be only speaking in poetry. The real meaning of these odd uses of the word come to light in view of Psalm 78:2, where the Psalmist says that he will open his mouth in a parable. He then immediately explains himself, “I will utter dark sayings of old.” The use of the word ‘parable’ in Numbers and Job is much easier to understand if we take the term to refer to “difficult and hidden sayings,” since both Balak, Balaam, and Job speak in hidden language that is difficult to understand. When the word is translated as ‘proverb,’ it generally is in a context that requires the meaning ‘byword.’ Proverbs are spoken of in 1 Samuel 24:13 as sayings that the ancients use. Based on these scriptures, it seems that the Proverbs refer to either (1) concealed, versified language, or (2) a byword that would often be spoken by the ancients and wise men. Even these bywords, however, are often in difficult language. Thus, the paraphrase for ‘proverbs’ will be ‘the difficult bywords of a wise man.’
To know – The word often has the idea of ‘to be intimately acquainted with,’ though the meaning is not at all to be necessarily taken in a physical sense. This will be the paraphrase for the word.
Wisdom – This word has already been extensively studied in the paper ‘A Study of Wisdom in the Bible.’ Please consult that paper. Although the paraphrase for ‘wisdom’ could be ‘the fear of the Lord,’ this would probably not yet be apparent to the reader who has just read 1:2; therefore, a different paraphrase of ‘complete wisdom in every area of life’ will be used.
Instruction – The word is found 50x in the Old Testament. It has the idea of the instruction of a person, including chastening, correction, and discipline. It is closely associated with the idea of the instruction of a student by his tutor, of a child by his father, or of a criminal by the penalty of the law. The word does not necessarily refer to the negative aspect of instruction (chastisement). It may also refer to the positive aspect of instruction (praise). It is interesting to note that this word is used relatively frequently in Proverbs by a father who is instructing his children. The paraphrase sued will be ‘educational instruction.’
Perceive – The meaning of this verb is simply ‘to understand’ or ‘to be able to wrap the mind around.’ The paraphrase will be ‘to be able to comprehend’
Understanding – This term is very similar to the word for ‘perceive.’ The text could even be translated, “to perceive the words of perception” or “to understand the words of understanding.” The word refers to the ability to comprehend an idea. The paraphrase will be ‘comprehension.’
Receive – The verb means ‘to take’ or ‘to accept.’ The paraphrase will be ‘to accept.’
Wisdom – This is a different Hebrew word than is found in the preceding verse. It is used 63x and has the idea of being circumspect, looking around, pondering, and intelligence. The paraphrase will be ‘wise consideration.’
Justice – This word is used quite frequently to refer to righteousness. It refers to the quality of doing what is right, including making the right decision in a judgment. The paraphrase to be used will be ‘righteous action.’
Judgment – This word refers to a judicial verdict or sentence. It sometimes carries with it a favorable connotation, i.e., right verdict. This connotation is obvious in this context. The paraphrase will be ‘just sentence.’
Equity – This word refers to straightness or evenness. It has the idea of following the straight path. The paraphrase will be ‘proper deed.’
Subtilty – The word is used 5x in the Old Testament. It refers to trickery, shrewdness, craftiness, and prudence. The word can have either a good or bad connotation; in this context the connotation is obviously good. Through the Bible it is translated ‘guile,’ ‘prudence,’ ‘subtilty,’ ‘wilily,’ and ‘wisdom.’ The paraphrase for this word will be ‘shrewd dealings.’
Simple – This word refers to the silly, naïve person. Webster defines this as “weak in intellect, not wise or sagacious; silly.” It also has the idea of ‘seducible. The paraphrase will be ‘naïve.’
Knowledge – This word refers simply to the perception of a fact. It will be paraphrased ‘the perception of facts.’
Discretion – This word often has the idea of a plan, a purpose, or a counsel. However, it also has the idea of discretion – being able to chose the correct plan. It will be paraphrased ‘the discernment of choices.’
Wise – This is the adjective form of the common word for wisdom. It will be rendered ‘truly wise man’ since a wise man is he who is truly wise.
Learning – This refers to instruction, teaching and learning, in particular the type of learning that a student is engaged in. It will be paraphrased ‘scholastic insight.’
Understanding – The word is the same as ‘perceive’ several verses above. It will be paraphrased ‘who comprehends.’
Wise Counsel – This is exactly what it means. It will be paraphrased ‘good advice.’
Dark Sayings – This refers to riddles, tricks, difficult maxims, and dark sayings – dark and shady words that are difficult for all but the wise to understand. It will be paraphrased ‘mysterious sayings.’
The Paraphrase
The difficult bywords of a wise man,
Even of Solomon the son of David,
Who was the king of Israel;
To be intimately acquainted
With complete wisdom in every area of life
and
With educational instruction;
To be able to comprehend the words of comprehension;
To accept the educational instruction of
Wise consideration,
Righteous action,
and
Just sentence,
and
Proper deed;
To give
Shrewd dealings to the naïve,
To the young man the perception of facts and the discernment of choices.
A truly wise man will hear, and will increase in scholastic insight;
and
A man who comprehends shall attain unto good advice:
To understand
The difficult bywords of a wise man,
And the interpretation;
The words of the truly wise,
And their mysterious sayings.
One Response »
