tn The Hebrew noun translated “proverb” is derived from the root מָשַׁל (mashal) which means “likeness.” The related Niphal verb means “to be like, be comparable with,” e.g., “he is like [נִמְשַׁל, nimshal] the beasts that perish” (Ps 49:12). The noun can mean an object lesson based on or using a comparison or analogy. It may be a short pithy statement (Ezek 16:44), object lesson drawn from experience (Ps 78:2–6), saying or by-word (Deut 28:37) or an oracle of future blessing (Ezek 21:1–5). Here it means an object lesson setting out courses of action. It helps one choose the course of action to follow or avoid.

tn The name שְׁלֹמֹה (shélomoh, “of Solomon”) is a genitive of authorship or source. While Solomon wrote a majority of the proverbial sayings in the book, some proverbial sayings were written by others (e.g., 22:17–24:34; 30:1–33; 31:1–9) and perhaps collected by Solomon. The name also forms a phonetic wordplay on the similarly sounding word מִשְׁלֵי (mishley, “proverbs”), as if to say the name is almost synonymous with proverbs.

sn The phrase “The Proverbs of Solomon” is a title for the entire book. The title does not imply that Solomon authored all the proverbs in this collection; some sections are collections from different authors: the sayings of the wise (22:17–24:22), more sayings of the wise (24:23–34), the words of Agur (Prov 30:1–33) and Lemuel (Prov 31:1–9). The title does not imply that the book was in its final canonical form in the days of Solomon; the men of Hezekiah added a collection of Solomonic proverbs to the existing form of the book (25:1–29:27). The original collection of Solomonic proverbs appears to be the collection of short pithy sayings in 10:1–22:16, and the title might have originally introduced only these. There is question whether chapters 1–9 were part of the original form of the book in the days of Solomon because they do not fit under the title; they are not “proverbs” per se (sentence sayings) but introductory admonitions (longer wisdom speeches). Chapters 1–9 could have been written by Solomon and perhaps added later by someone else. Or they could have been written by someone else and added later in the days of Hezekiah.

tn The designation “son of David” is in apposition to the name Solomon, as are the following nouns, further explaining the name.

tn The phrase “the king of Israel” is in apposition to the name Solomon.