Proverbs 26:18–19

Footnotes

1. 37 The term כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּ (kémitlahleah) is the Hitpalpel participle of the quadriliteral verbal root לִהְלֵהַּ (lihleah), which means “to amaze; to startle” ( 529 ). Here it functions as a substantive—the object of the preposition—and has the meaning of “madman” (cf. “maniac”). This is the only occurrence of the term.
2. 38 Heb “arrows and death” (so , ). This expression can be understood as a nominal hendiadys: “deadly arrows” (so , ).
3. 39 Heb “man.”
4. 40 The subject of this proverb is not simply a deceiver, but one who does so out of jest, or at least who claims he was joking afterward. The participle מְשַׂחֵק has the idea of “laughing, mocking”; in this context it might convey the idea of “kidding” or “joking.” The point is that such practical joking is immature and often dangerous. To the foolish deceiver it might all seem like fun, like sport; but it can destroy people. One cannot trifle with dangerous weapons, or put them in irresponsible hands; likewise one cannot trifle with human relationships. W. G. Plaut notes, “The only worthwhile humor is that which laughs with, not at others” (Proverbs, 270).