Proverbs

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:19b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְלֹא־יַשִּׂיגוּ אָרְחוֹת חַיִּים

Transliteration:

wᵉlōʾ-yaśśîgû ʾorḥôt ḥayyîm

Translation (NET):

nor will they reach the paths of life*

*Net Note: The phrase “reach the paths of life” is a figurative expression for experiencing joy and fullness of blessing (BDB 673 s.v. ‏נָשַׁג‎ 2.a).

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏וְלֹא (wᵉlōʾ) : conjunction ‏וְ (wᵉ) + negation ‏לֹא (lōʾ) : and not.
‏יַשִּׂיגוּ (yaśśîgû) : Hiphil imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏‏נָשַׂג (nāśag) : they will reach.
‏אָרְחוֹת (ʾorḥôt) : construct plural of ‏‏אֹרַח (ʾōraḥ) : the paths of.
‏חַיִּים (ḥayyîm) : life.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:20a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏לְמַעַן תֵּלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ טוֹבִים

Transliteration:

lᵉmaʿan tēlēk bᵉderek ṭôbîm

Translation (NET):

So* you will walk in the way of good people**

*Net Note: The conjunction ‏לְמַעַן‎ (lémaʾan, “so; as a result”) introduces the concluding result (BDB 775 s.v. ‏מַעַן‎ 2; HALOT 614 s.v. ‏מַעַן‎ 2.c) of heeding the admonition to attain wisdom (2:1–11) and to avoid the evil men and women and their destructive ways (2:12–19).
**Net Note: The noun “good” (‏טוֹבִים‎, tovim) does not function as an attributive genitive (“the good way”) because it is a plural noun and the term “way” (‏דֶרֶךְ‎, derekh) is singular. Rather it functions as a genitive of possession identifying the people who walk on this path: “the way of the good people.”

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏לְמַעַן (lᵉmaʿan) : so.
‏תֵּלֵךְ (tēlēk) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏הָלַךְ (hālak) : you will walk.
‏בְּדֶרֶךְ (bᵉderek) : preposition ‏בְּ (bᵉ) + construct ‏דֶרֶךְ (derek) : in the way of.
‏טוֹבִים (ṭôbîm) : plural of ‏‏טוֹב (ṭôb) : good people.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:20b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְאָרְחוֹת צַדִּיקִים תִּשְׁמֹר

Transliteration:

wᵉʾorḥôt ṣaddîqîm tišmōr

Translation (Waltke):

and the paths of the righteous you will keep*

*The same word is translated "watch over" in verses 8 and 11.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏וְאָרְחוֹת (wᵉʾorḥôt) : conjunction ‏וְ (wᵉ) + plural construct of ‏‏אֹרַח (ʾōraḥ) : and the paths of.
‏צַדִּיקִים (ṣaddîqîm) : plural of ‏‏צַדִּיק (ṣaddîq) : the righteous.
‏תִּשְׁמֹר (tišmōr) : Qal imperfect 2 m.s. of ‏‏שָׁמַר (šāmar) : you will keep.*

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:21a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי־יְשָׁרִים יִשְׁכְּנוּ־אָרֶץ

Transliteration:

kî-yᵉšārîm yiškᵉnû-ʾāreṣ

Translation (Waltke):

surely the upright will dwell in the land

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏כִּי (kî) : “emphatic”, deictic and stressing (HALOT) : surely.
‏יְשָׁרִים (yᵉšārîm) : plural of ‏‏יָשָׁר (yāšār) : the upright.
‏יִשְׁכְּנוּ (yiškᵉnû) : Qal imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏‏שָׁכַן (šākan) : will inhabit.
‏אָרֶץ (ʾāreṣ) : pausal vocalization of ‏‏אֶרֶץ (ʾereṣ) : [the] land.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:21b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּתְמִימִים יִוָּתְרוּ בָהּ

Transliteration:

ûtᵉmîmîm yiwwātᵉrû bâh

Translation (Waltke):

and the blameless will be left in it

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏וּתְמִימִים (ûtᵉmîmîm) : conj. ‏וּ (û) + plural of ‏‏תָּמִים (tāmîm) : and men of integrity (BDB).
‏יִוָּתְרוּ (yiwwātᵉrû) : Niphal imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏‏יָתַר (yātar) : will be left.
‏בָהּ (bâh) : preposition ‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + pronominal 3 f.s. suffix : in it.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:22a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּרְשָׁעִים מֵאֶרֶץ יִכָּרֵתוּ

Transliteration:

ûrᵉšāʿîm mēʾereṣ yikkārētû

Translation (TNIV):

but the wicked will be cut off from the land

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏וּרְשָׁעִים (ûrᵉšāʿîm) : conjunction ‏וּ (û) + plural of ‏‏רָשָׁע (rāšāʿ) : but the wicked.
‏מֵאֶרֶץ (mēʾereṣ) : preposition ‏‏מִן (min) + noun ‏‏אֶרֶץ (ʾereṣ) : from the earth.
‏‏יִכָּרֵתוּ (yikkārētû) : Niphal 3 m.p. pausal of ‏‏‏כָּרַת (kārat) : will be cut off.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 2:22b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּבוֹגְדִים יִסְּחוּ מִמֶּנָּה

Transliteration:

ûbôgᵉdîm yissᵉḥû mimmennâ

Translation (ESV):

and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏וּבוֹגְדִים (ûbôgᵉdîm) : preposition ‏וּ (û) + Qal participle m.p. of ‏‏בָּגַד (bāgad) : and the treacherous.
‏יִסְּחוּ (yissᵉḥû) : Qal imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏‏נָסַח (nāsaḥ) : will be rooted.
‏מִמֶּנָּה (mimmennâ) : preposition ‏‏מִן (min) + pronominal 3 f.s. suffix : out of it.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 3:1a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏בְּנִי תּוֹרָתִי אַל־תִּשְׁכָּח

Transliteration:

bᵉnî tôrātî ʾal-tiškāḥ

Translation (ESV):

My son, do not forget my teaching

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏‏בְּנִי (bᵉnî) : noun ‏‏בֵּן (bēn) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : my son.
‏‏תּוֹרָתִי (tôrātî) : noun ‏‏‏תּוֹרָה (tōrâ) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : my teaching.
‏‏אַל (ʾal) : negation for request, rejection, prohibition : [do] not.
‏‏תִּשְׁכָּח (tiškāḥ) : Qal imperfect 2 m.s. pausal of ‏‏‏שָׁכַח (šākaḥ) : forget.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 3:1b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּמִצְוֹתַי יִצֹּר לִבֶּךָ

Transliteration:

ûmiṣwōtay yiṣṣōr libbekā

Translation (Waltke):

and let your heart guard my commandments

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏‏וּמִצְוֹתַי (ûmiṣwōtay) : conj. ‏‏וּ (û) + plural of ‏‏‏מִצְוָה (miṣwâ) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : and my commandments.
‏‏לִבֶּךָ (libbekā) : noun ‏‏‏לֵב (lēb) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : your heart.
‏‏יִצֹּר (yiṣṣōr) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏‏נָצַר (nāṣar) : let guard.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 3:2):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי אֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם יוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ

Transliteration:

kî ʾōrek yāmîm ûšᵉnôt ḥayyîm wᵉšālôm yôsîpû lāk

Translation (Waltke):

for length of days and years of life, and peace and prosperity they will add to you.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏‏כִּי (kî) : for.
‏‏אֹרֶךְ (ʾōrek) : construct : length of.
‏‏יָמִים (yāmîm) : plural of ‏‏‏יוֹם (yôm) : days.
‏‏וּשְׁנוֹת (ûšᵉnôt) : conjunction ‏‏וּ (û) + plural construct. of ‏‏‏שָׁנָה (šānâ) : and years of.
‏‏חַיִּים (ḥayyîm) : life.
‏‏וְשָׁלוֹם (wᵉšālôm) : conjunction ‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + noun ‏‏שָׁלוֹם (šālôm) : and welfare, health, and prosperity (BDB).
‏‏יוֹסִיפוּ (yôsîpû) : Hiphil imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏‏‏יָסַף (yāsap) : they will add.
‏‏לָךְ (lāk) : preposition ‏‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : to you.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 3:3a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת אַל־יַעַזְבֻךָ

Transliteration:

ḥesed weʾᵉmet ʾal-yaʿazbukā

Translation (NRSV):

Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏‏חֶסֶד (ḥesed) : loyalty (HALOT, Holladay).
‏‏וֶאֱמֶת (weʾᵉmet) : conjunction ‏‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + noun ‏‏‏אֱמֶת (ʾᵉmet) : and faithfulness.
‏‏אַל (ʾal) : negation for prohibition : [do] not.
‏‏יַעַזְבֻךָ (yaʿazbukā) : Qal impf. 3 m.s. of ‏‏‏עָזַב (ʿāzab) + pron. 2 m.s. suffix : let ... leave you.*

*A figure for "do not forget" (Waltke).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 3:3b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏קָשְׁרֵם עַל־גַּרְגְּרוֹתֶיךָ

Transliteration:

qāšᵉrēm ʿal-gargᵉrôtêkā

Translation (NRSV):

bind them around your neck

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏‏קָשְׁרֵם (qāšᵉrēm) : Qal imperative of ‏‏‏קָשַׁר (qāšar) + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix : bind them.
‏‏עַל (ʿal) : upon (Waltke, BDB).
‏‏גַּרְגְּרוֹתֶיךָ (gargᵉrôtêkā) : noun ‏‏‏גַּרְגָּרוֹת (garᵉgārōt) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : your neck.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 3:3c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כָּתְבֵם עַל־לוּחַ לִבֶּךָ

Transliteration:

kotbēm ʿal-lûaḥ libbekā

Translation (NRSV):

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏‏כָּתְבֵם (kotbēm) : Qal imperative 2 m.s. of ‏‏‏כָּתַב (kātab) + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix : write them.
‏‏עַל (ʿal) : on.
‏‏לוּחַ (lûaḥ) : construct : the tablet of.
‏‏לִבֶּךָ (libbekā) : noun ‏‏‏לֵב (lēb) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : your heart.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 3:4a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּמְצָא־חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל־טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱלֹהִים וְאָדָם

Transliteration:

ûmᵉṣāʾ-ḥēn wᵉśēkel-ṭôb bᵉʿênê ʾᵉlōhîm wᵉʾādām

Translation (REB):

So will you win favour and success in the sight of God and man.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏‏וּמְצָא (ûmᵉṣāʾ) : conjunction ‏‏וּ (û) + Qal imperative* 2 m.s. of ‏‏‏מָצָא (māṣāʾ) : and/so you will find.
‏‏חֵן (ḥēn) : favor
‏‏וְשֵׂכֶל (wᵉśēkel) : conjunction ‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + noun ‏‏שֵׂכֶל (śēkel) : and result.
‏‏טוֹב (ṭôb) : good.
‏‏בְּעֵינֵי (bᵉʿênê) : preposition ‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + plural construct of ‏‏‏עַיִן (ʿayin) : in the eyes of.
‏‏‏אֱלֹהִים (ʾᵉlōhîm) : God.
‏‏‏וְאָדָם (wᵉʾādām) : conjunction ‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + noun ‏‏‏אָדָם (ʾādām) : and man.

*Net Note: The form ‏וּמְצָא‎ (umétsaʾ, “find”) is the imperative but it functions as a purpose/result statement. Following a string of imperatives (v. 3), the imperative with a prefixed vav introduces a volitive sequence expressing purpose or result (v. 4).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 3:4):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּמְצָא־חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל־טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱלֹהִים וְאָדָם

Transliteration:

ûmᵉṣāʾ-ḥēn wᵉśēkel-ṭôb bᵉʿênê ʾᵉlōhîm wᵉʾādām

Translation (REB):

So will you win favour and success in the sight of God and man.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

‏‏וּמְצָא (ûmᵉṣāʾ) : conjunction ‏‏וּ (û) + Qal imperative* 2 m.s. of ‏‏‏מָצָא (māṣāʾ) : and/so you will find.
‏‏חֵן (ḥēn) : favor
‏‏וְשֵׂכֶל (wᵉśēkel) : conjunction ‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + noun ‏‏שֵׂכֶל (śēkel) : and result.
‏‏טוֹב (ṭôb) : good.
‏‏בְּעֵינֵי (bᵉʿênê) : preposition ‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + plural construct of ‏‏‏עַיִן (ʿayin) : in the eyes of.
‏‏‏אֱלֹהִים (ʾᵉlōhîm) : God.
‏‏‏וְאָדָם (wᵉʾādām) : conjunction ‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + noun ‏‏‏אָדָם (ʾādām) : and man.

*Net Note: The form ‏וּמְצָא‎ (umétsaʾ, “find”) is the imperative but it functions as a purpose/result statement. Following a string of imperatives (v. 3), the imperative with a prefixed vav introduces a volitive sequence expressing purpose or result (v. 4).