Proverbs

[John Reece]

Abbreviations:

See here.

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:16a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי רַגְלֵיהֶם לָרַע יָרוּצוּ

Transliteration:

kî raglêhem lāraʿ yārûṣû

Translation (ESV):

for their feet run to evil

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

כִּי (kî) : conjunction for.
רַגְלֵיהֶם (raglêhem) : dual of ‏רֶגֶל (regel) + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix : their feet.
יָרוּצוּ (yārûṣû) : Qal imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏רוּץ (rûṣ) : run.
לָרַע (lāraʿ) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + noun לָרַע (raʿ) : to evil.

[John Reece]

Abbreviations:

See here.

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:16b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וִימַהֲרוּ לִשְׁפָּךְ־דָּם

Transliteration:

wîmahᵃrû lišpāk-dām

Translation (ESV):

and they make haste to shed blood.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וִימַהֲרוּ (wîmahᵃrû) : conjunction ‏וְ (wᵉ) + Qal imperfect 2 m.p. of ‏מָהַר (māhar) : and they hasten.
לִשְׁפָּךְ (lišpāk) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + Qal infinitive construct of ‏שָׁפַךְ (šāpak) : to shed.
דָּם (dām) : blood.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:17):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי־חִנָּם מְזֹרָה הָרָשֶׁת בְּעֵינֵי כָל־בַּעַל כָּנָף

Transliteration:

kî-ḥinnām mᵉzōrâ hārāšet bᵉʿênê kol-baʿal kānāp‏

Translation (TNIV):

How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

כִּי (kî) : conjunction : for.
חִנָּם (ḥinnām) : adverb : in vain.
הָרָשֶׁת (hārāšet) : definite article + pausal vocalization of ‏רֶשֶׁת (rešet) : the net.
מְזֹרָה (mᵉzōrâ) : Pual participle of ‏זָרָה (zārâ) : is spread (metaphor Holladay).
בְּעֵינֵי (bᵉʿênê) : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + dual construct of ‏עַיִן (ʿayin) : in the eyes/sight of.
כָל (kol) : construct of ‏כֹּל (kōl) : any (Waltke note 22 page 185).
בַּעַל (baʿal) : construct : possessor of (IBHS page 149 §9.5.3b).
כָּנָף (kānāp‏) : wing.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:18):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְהֵם לְדָמָם יֶאֱרֹבוּ יִצְפְּנוּ לְנַפְשֹׁתָם

Transliteration:

wᵉhēm lᵉdāmām yeʾᵉrōbû yiṣpᵉnû lᵉnapšōtām‏

Translation (ESV):

but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וְהֵם (wᵉhēm) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + demonstrative adjective m.p. הֵם (hēm) : but these men.
יֶאֱרֹבוּ (yeʾᵉrōbû) : Qal imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏אָרַב (ʾārab) : lie in wait.
לְדָמָם (lᵉdāmām) : preposition לְ (lᵉ) + noun ‏דָּם (dām) + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix : for their own blood.
יִצְפְּנוּ (yiṣpᵉnû) : Qal imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏צָפַן (ṣāpan) : they set an ambush.
לְנַפְשֹׁתָם (lᵉnapšōtām‏) : preposition לְ (lᵉ) + noun ‏נֶפֶשׁ (nepeš) + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix : for their own lives.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:19):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כֵּן אָרְחוֹת כָּל־בֹּצֵעַ בָּצַע אֶת־נֶפֶשׁ בְּעָלָיו יִקָּח

Transliteration:

kēn ʾorḥôt kol-bōṣēaʿ bāṣaʿ ʾet-nepeš bᵉʿālāyw yiqqāḥ‏

Translation (ESV):

Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

כֵּן (kēn) (= "as has just been said" Holladay) : such [are].
אָרְחוֹת (ʾorḥôt) : plural construct of ‏אֹרַח (ʾōraḥ) : the ways of.
כָּל (kol) : construct of ‏כֹּל (kōl) : everyone.
בֹּצֵעַ (bōṣēaʿ) : Qal participle of ‏בָּצַע (bāṣaʿ) : who gains by violence (BDB).
בֹּצֵעַ (bōṣēaʿ) : pausal vocalization of ‏בֶּצַע (beṣaʿ) : unjust gain (BDB).
יִקָּח (yiqqāḥ‏) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. pausal of ‏לָקַח (lāqaḥ) : it takes away.
אֶת (ʾet) : direct object marker.
נֶפֶשׁ (nepeš) : construct : the life of.
בְּעָלָיו (bᵉʿālāyw) : plural of ‏בַּעַל (baʿal) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : its possessors.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:20):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏חָכְמוֹת בַּחוּץ תָּרֹנָּה בָּרְחֹבוֹת תִּתֵּן קוֹלָהּ

Transliteration:

ḥokmôt baḥûṣ tārōnnâ borḥōbôt tittēn qôlâh‏

Translation (ESV):

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

חָכְמוֹת (ḥokmôt) : plural of ‏חָכְמָה (ḥokmâ) [intensive plural or abstract noun (Waltke)] : wisdom
תָּרֹנָּה (tārōnnâ) : Qal imperfect 3 f.s. + pseudo-cohortative suffix (Waltke) of ‏רָנַן (rānan) : cries aloud.
בַּחוּץ (baḥûṣ) : preposition ‏בְּ (bᵉ) + noun חוּץ (ḥûṣ) : in the street.
בָּרְחֹבוֹת (borḥōbôt) : prep. ‏בְּ (bᵉ) + def. art. + pl. [of extension (Waltke)] of ‏‏רְחֹב (rᵉḥōb) : in the public square.
תִּתֵּן (tittēn) : Qal imperfect 3 f.s. of ‏נָתַן (nātan) : she raises.
קוֹלָהּ (qôlâh‏) : noun ‏קוֹל (qôl) + pronominal 3 f.s. suffix : her voice.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:21a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏בְּרֹאשׁ הֹמִיּוֹת תִּקְרָא

Transliteration:

bᵉrōʾš hōmîyôt tiqrāʾ‏

Translation (Waltke):

on the highest¹ walls² she calls out

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

בְּרֹאשׁ (bᵉrōʾš) : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + noun ‏רֹאשׁ (rōʾš) : on the highest.¹
הֹמִיּוֹת (hōmîôt) : walls.²
תִּקְרָא (tiqrāʾ‏) : Qal imperfect 3 f.s. of ‏קָרָא (qārāʾ) : she calls out.

¹rōʾš ḥmyt is a superlative genitive (IBHS, p. 154, §9.5.3.) (Waltke).
²MT's hōmîyôt is Qal feminine plural participle, retaining the original yodh of the root hmh (GKC #75v), a substantival adjective meaning "noisy"/"stirring"/"tumultuous" places. "Head-of-streets" occurs in Isa. 51:20; Lam. 2:19; cf. Ezek. 16:25). The LXX reads teicheōn, not from ‏ḥōmôt (pace Fichtner [BHS]) because that retroversion does not account for yodh, but from Ugaritic-Phoenician ḥmyt ("wall"). Scribes frequently confuse h and ḥ. The parallel in 8:2, bᵉrōʾš-mᵉrômîm ("on the highest heights"), better matches "wall" than does "noisy" (Waltke).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:21b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏בְּפִתְחֵי שְׁעָרִים בָּעִיר אֲמָרֶיהָ תֹאמֵר

Transliteration:

bᵉpitḥê šᵉʿārîm bāʿîr ʾᵃmārêhā tōʾmēr

Translation (ESV):

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

בְּפִתְחֵי (bᵉpitḥê) : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + plural construct of ‏פֶּתַח (petaḥ) : at the entrance of.
שְׁעָרִים (šᵉʿārîm) : plural of ‏שָׁעַר (šāʿar) : the gates.
בָּעִיר (bāʿîr) : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + definite article + עִיר (ʿîr) : to the city.
תֹאמֵר (tōʾmēr) : Qal imperfect 3 f.s. of ‏אָמַר (ʾāmar) : she speaks.
אֲמָרֶיהָ (ʾᵃmārêhā) : plural of ‏אֵמֶר (ʾēmer) + pronominal 3 f.s. suffix : her words.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:22a):

‏‏‏עַד־מָתַי פְּתָיִם תְּאֵהֲבוּ פֶתִי

Transliteration:

ʿad-mātay pᵉtāyim tᵉʾêhᵃbû petî

Translation (Waltke):

"How long, you gullible, will you love being gullible" ―

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

עַד (ʿad) : temporal : until.
מָתַי (mātay) : when?
פְּתָיִם (pᵉtāyim) : plural of ‏פֶּתִי (petî) : young, naive person (easily deceived) (Holladay).
תְּאֵהֲבוּ (tᵉʾêhᵃbû) : Qal imperfect 2 m.p. of ‏אָהֵב (ʾāhēb) : will you love.
פֶתִי (petî) : abstract noun ("gullibility") (Waltke) : being gullible.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:22b):

‏‏‏‏וְלֵצִים לָצוֹן חָמְדוּ לָהֶם

Transliteration:

wᵉlēṣîm lāṣôn ḥāmᵉdû lāhem

Translation (Waltke):

― and mockers delight themselves in mocking

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וְלֵצִים (wᵉlēṣîm) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Qal participle m.p. of ‏לִיץ (lîṣ) : and mockers.
חָמְדוּ (ḥāmᵉdû) : Qal perfect 3 c.p. of ‏חָמֵד (ḥāmēd) : covet (Holladay).
לָהֶם (lāhem) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix : for themselves.
לָצוֹן (lāṣôn) : noun : [the pleasure of] mocking.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:22c):

‏‏‏וּכְסִילִים יִשְׂנְאוּ־דָעַת

Transliteration:

‏ûkᵉsîlîm yiśnᵉʾû-dāʿat

Translation (Waltke):

and and fools hate knowledge?

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וּכְסִילִים (ûkᵉsîlîm) : conjunction וּ (û) + plural of ‏כְּסִיל (kᵉsîl) : and fools.
יִשְׂנְאוּ (yiśnᵉʾû) : Qal imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏שָׂנֵא (śānēʾ) : hate.
דָעַת (dāʿat) : knowledge.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:23a):

‏‏‏‏תָּשׁוּבוּ לְתוֹכַחְתִּי

Transliteration:

‏tāšûbû lᵉtôkaḥtî

Translation (Waltke):

Turn back¹ [you gullible young people²] to my rebuke

¹Šub + lᵉ = "to turn oneself toward" and šub + min = "to turn back from" (see BDB) p. 997; HALOT), 4:1328), disallowing "how long will you turn away at [= from] my reproof" (pace NAB and R. Murphy [...]).
²The insertion clarifying "you" refers to the gullible, not the fools and scoffers of the parenthesis (see verse 22).

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

תָּשׁוּבוּ (tāšûbû) : Qal imperfect 2 m.p. of ‏שׁוּב (šûb) : turn back (Holladay) ("or repent tāšûbû" Waltke).
לְתוֹכַחְתִּי (lᵉtôkaḥtî) : prep. לְ (lᵉ) + ‏תּוֹכַחַת (tōkaḥat) + pron. 1 c.s. suffix : rebuke (or correction Waltke).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:23b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏הִנֵּה אַבִּיעָה לָכֶם רוּחִי

Transliteration:

‏hinnê ʾabbîʿâ lākem rûḥî

Translation (ASV):

Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

הִנֵּה (hinnê) : demonstrative particle : behold/see.
אַבִּיעָה (ʾabbîʿâ) : Hiphil imperative 1 c.s + directional ה : I will pour out.
לָכֶם (lākem) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + pronominal 2 m.p. suffix : to you.
רוּחִי (rûḥî) : feminine noun ‏רוּחַ (rûaḥ) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : my spirit.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:23b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏הִנֵּה אַבִּיעָה לָכֶם רוּחִי

Transliteration:

hinnê ʾabbîʿâ lākem rûḥî

Translation (ESV):

I will pour out my spirit to you

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

הִנֵּה (hinnê) : demonstrative particle : behold/see.
אַבִּיעָה (ʾabbîʿâ) : Hiphil imperative 1 c.s + directional ה : I will pour out.
לָכֶם (lākem) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + pronominal 2 m.p. suffix : to you.
רוּחִי (rûḥî) : feminine noun ‏רוּחַ (rûaḥ) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : my spirit.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Proverbs 1:23b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏הִנֵּה אַבִּיעָה לָכֶם רוּחִי

Transliteration:

hinnê ʾabbîʿâ lākem rûḥî

Translation (ESV):

I will pour out my spirit to you

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

הִנֵּה (hinnê) : demonstrative particle : behold/see.
אַבִּיעָה (ʾabbîʿâ) : Hiphil imperative 1 c.s + directional ה : I will pour out.
לָכֶם (lākem) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + pronominal 2 m.p. suffix : to you.
רוּחִי (rûḥî) : feminine noun ‏רוּחַ (rûaḥ) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : my spirit.