Proverbs 2:20–22

Footnotes

1. 77 The conjunction לְמַעַן (léma’an, “so; as a result”) introduces the concluding result ( 775 מַעַן 2; 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).
2. 78 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.”
3. 79 In the light of the parallelism, the noun “righteous” (צַדִּיקִים, tsadiqim) functions as a genitive of possession rather than an attributive genitive.
4. 80 Heb “the blameless” (so , ); “the honest”; “the innocent.” The term תְּמִימִים (témimim, “the blameless”) describes those who live with integrity. They are blameless in that they live above reproach according to the requirements of the law.
5. 81 Heb “the guilty.” The term רְשָׁעִים (résha’im, “the wicked”) is from the root רָשַׁע (rasha’, “to be guilty”) and refers to those who are (1) guilty of sin: moral reprobates or (2) guilty of crime: criminals deserving punishment ( 957 רָשָׁע). This is the person who is probably not a covenant member and manifests that in the way he lives, either by sinning against God or committing criminal acts. The noun sometimes refers to guilty criminals who deserve to die (Num 16:26; 35:31; 2 Sam 4:11). Here they will be “cut off” and “torn away” from the land.
6. 82 Heb “cut off.” The verb כָּרַת (karat, “to be cut off”) indicates either that the guilty will (1) die prematurely, (2) be excommunicated from the community or (3) be separated eternally in judgment. The devoted an entire tractate ( Keritot) to this topic. The context suggests that the guilty will be “removed” from the land where the righteous dwell in security either through death or expulsion.
7. 83 The word בָּגַד (bagad) means “to act treacherously” ( 93 ; בגד). It describes those who deal treacherously, unfaithfully or deceitfully in marriage relations, matters of property or personal rights, in violating covenants, and in their words and general conduct.
8. 84 The consonantal form יסחו (yskhv) is vocalized in the as יִסְּחוּ (yissékhu, Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural from נָסַח, nasakh, “to tear away”) but this produces an awkward sense: “they [= the righteous in vv. 20–21] will tear away the treacherous from it” ( 650 נָסַח). Due to the parallelism, the editors suggest emending the form to יִנָּסְחוּ (yinnaskhu, Niphal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural): “the treacherous will be torn away from it.” However, points the form as יֻסְחוּ (yuskhu) which reflects an old Qal passive vocalization—probably the best solution to the problem: “the treacherous will be torn away from it.”