Proverbs 9:5–9

Footnotes

1. 8 The construction features a cognate accusative (verb and noun from same root). The preposition בּ (bet) has the partitive use “some” ( §119.m).
2. 9 The final verb actually stands in a relative clause although the relative pronoun is not present; it modifies “wine.” The expressions “eat” and “drink” carry the implied comparison forward; they mean that the simple are to appropriate the teachings of wisdom.
3. 10 There are two ways to take this word: either as “fools” or as “foolish ways.” The spelling for “foolishness” in v. 13 differs from this spelling, and so some have taken that as an indicator that this should be “fools.” But this could still be an abstract plural here as in 1:22. Either the message is to forsake fools (i.e., bad company; cf. , ) or forsake foolishness (cf. , , , , , ).
4. 11 The two imperatives are joined with vav; this is a volitive sequence in which result or consequence is expressed.
5. 12 The verb means “go straight, go on, advance” or “go straight on in the way of understanding” ( 80 אָשַׁר).
6. 13 The active participle יֹסֵר (yoser) describes one who tries to correct by means of instruction and discipline; it is paralleled by the Hiphil participle which refers to someone who rebukes or reproves another. Anyone trying this on these types of people would be inviting trouble.
7. 14 Heb “receives for himself.”
8. 15 The word means “dishonor” or “disgrace.” It is paralleled with מוּמוֹ (mumo), translated “abuse.” The latter term means “blemish,” although some would emend the text to read “reproach.” The is figurative but not impossible to interpret: Whoever tries to rebuke a wicked person will receive only insults and perhaps physical attack.
9. 16 The verb “receives” is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.
10. 17 In view of the expected response for reproof, the text now uses a negated jussive to advise against the attempt. This is paralleled antithetically by the imperative in the second colon. This imperative is in an understood conditional clause: “if you reprove a wise person.”
11. 18 Heb “lest he hate you.” The particle פֶּן (pen, “lest”) expresses fear or precaution (R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 79, §476). The antonyms “love” and “hate” suggest that the latter means “reject” and the former means “choosing and embracing.”
12. 19 The noun “instruction” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation.
13. 20 The parallelism shows what Proverbs will repeatedly stress, that the wise person is the righteous person.
14. 21 The Hiphil verb normally means “to cause to know, make known”; but here the context suggests “to teach” (so many English versions).
15. 22 The term “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for the sake of smoothness and clarity.