Proverbs

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:5a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏אָז תָּבִין יִרְאַת יְהוָה

Transliteration (Accordance):

ʾāz tābîn yirʾat YHWH

Translation (Waltke):

then you will understand the fear of the LORD

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏אָז (ʾāz) : logical and temporal particle : then.
‏תָּבִין (tābîn) : Qal imperfect 2 m.s. of ‏‏בִּין (bîn) : you will understand.
‏יִרְאַת (yirʾat) : construct of ‏‏יָרֵא (yārēʾ) : the fear of.
‏יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name : Yahweh/the LORD.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:5b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְדַעַת אֱלֹהִים תִּמְצָא

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉdaʿat ʾᵉlōhîm timṣāʾ

Translation (Waltke):

and the knowledge of God* you will find

*The ambiguous genitive may be a genitive of authorship (i.e., the LORD is the author of knowledge), and/or a genitive of inalienable possession (i.e., knowledge is an intrinsic property of the LORD), and/or an objective genitive (i.e., teaching brings one into a personal relationship with God) (IBHS, pp. 143, 145, 146, §9.5.1c, 1g, 2b).

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏וְדַעַת (wᵉdaʿat) : conjunction ‏וְ (wᵉ) + construct ‏‏דַּעַת (daʿat) : and the knowledge of.
‏אֱלֹהִים (ʾᵉlōhîm) : God.
‏תִּמְצָא (timṣāʾ) : Qal imperfect 2 m.s. of ‏‏מָצָא (māṣāʾ) : you will find.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:6a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי־יְהוָה יִתֵּן חָכְמָה

Transliteration (Accordance):

kî-YHWH yittēn ḥokmâ

Translation (ESV):

for the LORD gives wisdom

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏כִּי (kî) : conjunction : for.
‏יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name : Yahweh/the LORD.
‏יִתֵּן (yittēn) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏נָתַן (nāṯan) : gives.
‏חָכְמָה (ḥokmâ) : wisdom.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:6b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏מִפִּיו דַּעַת וּתְבוּנָה

Transliteration (Accordance):

mippîw daʿat ûtᵉbûnâ

Translation (ESV):

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏מִפִּיו (mippîw) : preposition ‏‏מִן (min) + noun ‏‏פֶּה (peh) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : from his mouth.
‏דַּעַת (daʿat) : [come] knowledge.
‏וּתְבוּנָה (ûtᵉbûnâ) : conjunction ‏וּ (û) + noun ‏תְבוּנָה (tᵉbûnâ) : and understanding.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:7a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְצָפַן [יִצְפֹּן] לַיְשָׁרִים תּוּשִׁיָּה*

*Net Note: The form is a Kethib/Qere reading. The Kethib ‏וְצָפַן‎ (vétsafan; Qal perfect + vav consecutive) is supported by the LXX and Syriac. The Qere ‏יִצְפֹּן‎ (yitspon; Qal imperfect) is supported by the Aramaic Targum of Prov 2:7 (the Aramaic translations of the Hebrew scriptures were called Targums) and Latin Vulgate. Internal evidence favors the imperfect; another imperfect appears in v. 6a with a similar sense. The Qere is normally preferred; the scribes are indicating that the received reading is corrupt. The Kethib reflects orthographic confusion between ‏י‎ (yod) and ‏ו‎ (vav). As in v. 6a, this Qal imperfect functions as a habitual imperfect describing a universal truth in past, present and future.

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉṣāpan [yiṣpōn]* layšārı̂m tûšı̂â

Translation (TNIV & Waltke):

He holds success in store for the upright

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏יִצְפֹּן (yiṣpōn) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏צָפַן (ṣāpan) : he holds in store.
‏לַיְשָׁרִים (layšārîm) : preposition ‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + definite article + plural of ‏‏יָשָׁר (yāšār) : for the upright.
‏תּוּשִׁיָּה (tûšı̂â) : success.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:7b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏מָגֵן לְהֹלְכֵי תֹם

Transliteration (Accordance):

māgēn lᵉhōlᵉkê tōm

Translation (Waltke):

he is a shield to those who walk in blamelessness*

*Genitive of location (IBHS, pages 147-48 §9.5.2f).

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏מָגֵן (māgēn) : [he is] a shield.
‏לְהֹלְכֵי (lᵉhōlᵉkê) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + Qal participle m.p. construct of ‏‏הָלַךְ (hālak) : to those who walk.
‏תֹם (tōm) : [in] integrity (HALOT).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:8a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏לִנְצֹר אָרְחוֹת מִשְׁפָּט

Transliteration (Accordance):

linṣōr ʾorḥôt mišpāṭ

Translation (Waltke):

by guarding the paths of justice ―

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏לִנְצֹר (linṣōr) : preposition ‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + Qal infinitive construct of ‏‏נָצַר (nāṣar) : by guarding.
‏אָרְחוֹת (ʾorḥôt) : plural construct of ‏‏אֹרַח (ʾōraḥ) : the paths of.
‏מִשְׁפָּט (mišpāṭ) : justice.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:8b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְדֶרֶךְ חֲסִידוֹ [חֲסִידָיו] יִשְׁמֹר

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉderek ḥᵃsîdô [ḥᵃsîdāyw] yišmōr

Translation (Waltke):

and the way of his loyal ones* he watches over

*Reading plural ḥsydyw (Qere, LXX, Syriac), not singular ḥsydw (Kethib).

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏וְדֶרֶךְ (wᵉderek) : conjunction ‏וְ (wᵉ) + construct ‏דֶרֶךְ (derek) : and the way of.
חֲסִידָיו (ḥᵃsîdāyw) : adjective ‏חָסִיד (ḥāsïd) + 3 m.p. suffix : his loyal ones.*
יִשְׁמֹר (yišmōr) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏שָׁמַר (šāmar) : he watches over.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:9):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏אָז תָּבִין צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט וּמֵישָׁרִים כָּל־מַעְגַּל־טוֹב

Transliteration (Accordance):

ʾāz tābîn ṣedeq ûmišpāṭ ûmêšārîm kol-maʿgal-ṭôb

Translation (TNIV):

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair — every good path.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏אָז (ʾāz) : logical and temporal particle : then.
‏תָּבִין (tābîn) : Qal imperfect 2 m.s. of ‏‏בִּין (bîn) : you will understand.
‏צֶדֶק (ṣedeq) : (what is) right (Holladay).
‏וּמִשְׁפָּט (ûmišpāṭ) : conjunction ‏וּ (û) + noun ‏‏מִישׁוֹר (mišpāṭ) : and just.
‏וּמֵישָׁרִים (ûmêšārîm) : conjunction ‏וּ (û) + plural of ‏‏מִישׁוֹר (mîšôr) : and fair.
‏‏כָּל (kol) : construct of ‏‏‏כֹּל (kōl) : every.
‏‏טוֹב (ṭôb) : good.
‏‏מַעְגַּל (maʿgal) : path.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:10a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי־תָבוֹא חָכְמָה בְלִבֶּךָ

Transliteration:

kî-tābôʾ ḥokmâ bᵉlibbekā

Translation (TNIV):

For wisdom will enter your heart

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏כִּי (kî) : conjunction : for.
‏חָכְמָה (ḥokmâ) : wisdom.
‏תָבוֹא (tābôʾ) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏בוֹא (bôʾ) : will enter.
‏בְלִבֶּךָ (bᵉlibbekā) : preposition ‏בְ (bᵉ) + noun ‏‏לֵב (lēb) + 2 m.s. suffix pausal : into your heart.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:10a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי־תָבוֹא חָכְמָה בְלִבֶּךָ

Transliteration:

kî-tābôʾ ḥokmâ bᵉlibbekā

Translation (TNIV):

For wisdom will enter your heart

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏כִּי (kî) : conjunction : for.
‏חָכְמָה (ḥokmâ) : wisdom.
‏תָבוֹא (tābôʾ) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏בוֹא (bôʾ) : will enter.
‏בְלִבֶּךָ (bᵉlibbekā) : preposition ‏בְ (bᵉ) + noun ‏‏לֵב (lēb) + 2 m.s. suffix pausal : into* your heart.

*After verbs of motion ‏בְ (bᵉ) = into (Holladay).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:10b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְדַעַת לְנַפְשְׁךָ יִנְעָם

Transliteration:

wᵉdaʿat lᵉnapšᵉkā yinʿām

Translation (TNIV):

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏וְדַעַת (wᵉdaʿat) : conjunction ‏וְ (wᵉ) + noun ‏דַעַת (daʿat) : and knowledge.
‏לְנַפְשְׁךָ (lᵉnapšᵉkā) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + noun ‏‏נֶפֶשׁ (nepeš) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : to your soul.
‏יִנְעָם (yinʿām) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏נָעֵם (nāʿēm) : will be pleasant.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:11):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏מְזִמָּה תִּשְׁמֹר עָלֶיךָ

Transliteration:

mᵉzimmâ tišmōr ʿālêkā

Translation (TNIV):

Discretion will protect you

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏מְזִמָּה (mᵉzimmâ) : discretion.
‏תִּשְׁמֹר (tišmōr) : Qal imperfect 3 f.s. of ‏‏שָׁמַר (šāmar) : will watch.
‏עָלֶיךָ (ʿālêkā) : preposition ‏‏עַל (ʿal) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : over you.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:11a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏מְזִמָּה תִּשְׁמֹר עָלֶיךָ

Transliteration:

mᵉzimmâ tišmōr ʿālêkā

Translation (TNIV):

Discretion will protect you

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏מְזִמָּה (mᵉzimmâ) : discretion.
‏תִּשְׁמֹר (tišmōr) : Qal imperfect 3 f.s. of ‏‏שָׁמַר (šāmar) : will watch.
‏עָלֶיךָ (ʿālêkā) : preposition ‏‏עַל (ʿal) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : over you.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:11b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏תְּבוּנָה תִנְצְרֶכָּה

Transliteration:

tᵉbûnâ tinṣᵉrekkâ

Translation (TNIV):

and understanding will guard you.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏תְּבוּנָה (tᵉbûnâ) : understanding.
‏תִנְצְרֶכָּה (tinṣᵉrekkâ) : Qal imperfect 3 f.s. of ‏‏נָצַר (nāṣar) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : will guard you.