How To Interpret An Individual Proverb (Part 3)
Notes
Transcript
PR
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PROVERBS
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Interpreting Proverbs
Part 1: How to Interpret Individual Proverbs
What is the answer to
2
3 x (8 – 4) + 6 ÷ 2?
What is the order of operations that
you learned in grade 6 maths class?
PEMDAS
What does PEMDAS stand for?
“Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
and Let her Rest”
PEMDAS stands for
Parentheses, Exponents,
Multiplication and Division (same
level), and Addition and
Subtraction (same level) from Left
to Right.
What is the answer to
2
3 x (8 – 4) + 6 ÷ 2?
First, we do the subtraction inside the parentheses:
2
8 – 4 = 4, so we get 3 x 4 + 6 ÷ 2.
Next, we square the result:
2
4 = 16, so we get 3 x 16 + 6 ÷ 2.
Then, we multiply:
3 x 16 = 48, so we get 48 + 6 ÷ 2.
Next, we divide:
6 ÷ 2 = 3, so we get 48 + 3.
Finally, we add: 48 + 3 = 51.
https://www.mathnasium.com/blog/order-of-operations-in-math
How do we interpret individual
proverbs?
Is there an order of operations to
interpreting a proverb?
Yes!!!
Where do we start with interpreting a
proverb?
1. Inside the proverb itself.
Proverbs are a form of Hebrew poetry.
Most proverbs divide into 2 lines
(although some divide into 3 lines).
Where should we divide the verse?
Proverbs 19:9 (ESV) A false witness
will not go unpunished, and he who
breathes out lies will perish.
Where should we divide the verse?
Proverbs 19:9 (ESV)
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
How does dividing the verse in half
help us interpret it?
Proverbs 19:9 (ESV)
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
Hebrew poetry focuses on rhyming
thoughts, not rhyming sounds.
Proverbs 19:9 (ESV)
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
What rhymes between the lines in
Proverbs 19:9?
Proverbs 19:9 (ESV)
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
What rhymes between the lines in
Proverbs 19:9?
Proverbs 19:9 (ESV)
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
What rhymes between the lines in
Proverbs 19:9?
Proverbs 19:9 (ESV)
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
Synonymous parallelism:
When both halves of the verse say
the same thing in approximately
the same way.
Proverbs 19:9 (ESV)
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
Where should we divide up Proverbs
19:4?
Proverbs 19:4 (ESV) Wealth brings many new
friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
Proverbs 19:4 (ESV)
Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
What rhymes between the lines in
Proverbs 19:4?
Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
What rhymes between the lines in
Proverbs 19:4?
Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
What rhymes between the lines in
Proverbs 19:4?
Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
What rhymes between the lines in
Proverbs 19:4?
Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
What rhymes between the lines in
Proverbs 19:4?
Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
Antithetical parallelism: when the
halves of the verse say approximately
the same thing in opposite terms.
Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
Where should we divide up Proverbs
19:3?
Proverbs 19:3 (ESV) When a man’s folly brings
his way to ruin, his heart rages against the
LORD.
What rhymes between the lines in
Proverbs 19:3?
When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the LORD.
Nothing!!!
What is going on in Proverbs 19:3?
When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the LORD.
What kind of Hebrew poetry is
Proverbs 19:3?
When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the LORD.
Synthetic parallelism: when the
second (and/or third) line builds upon
the rst line.
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When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the LORD.
Take Aways:
1. Proverbs are often self-explanatory if
you subdivide and compare the lines of
the proverb.
What kind of parallelism is this?
Proverbs 9:12 (ESV) If you are wise, you
are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you
alone will bear it.
Where should we divide Proverbs
9:12?
Proverbs 9:12 (ESV) If you are wise, you
are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you
alone will bear it.
Where should we divide Proverbs
9:12?
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
What parts are parallel?
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
What kind of parallelism is this?
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Antithetical!
What is the point of this verse?
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
What is the context of Proverbs 9:12?
The immediate context is the paragraph
9:7-12.
Group Project:
1. Read Proverbs 9:7-12.
2. What does this paragraph say about the
wise?
3. What does this paragraph say about the
scoffer?
4. Explain “for yourself” (v. 12) in view of
vv. 7-11.
5. Explain how the scoffer “alone will bear
it” in light of vv. 7-11.
Proverbs 9:7–12 (ESV) Whoever corrects a scoffer gets
himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man
incurs injury. 8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate
you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in
learning. 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is
insight. 11For by me your days will be multiplied, and
years will be added to your life. 12If you are wise, you
are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear
it.
Group Project:
1. Read Proverbs 9:7-12.
2. What does this paragraph say about the
wise?
Proverbs 9:7–12 (ESV) Whoever corrects a scoffer gets
himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man
incurs injury. 8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate
you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in
learning. 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is
insight. 11For by me your days will be multiplied, and
years will be added to your life. 12If you are wise, you
are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear
it.
Group Project:
1.
2.
Read Proverbs 9:7-12.
What does this paragraph say about the wise?
3. What does this paragraph say about the
scoffer?
Proverbs 9:7–12 (ESV) Whoever corrects a scoffer gets
himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man
incurs injury. 8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate
you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in
learning. 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is
insight. 11For by me your days will be multiplied, and
years will be added to your life. 12If you are wise, you
are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear
it.
Group Project:
1.
2.
3.
Read Proverbs 9:7-12.
What does this paragraph say about the wise?
What does this paragraph say about the scoffer?
4. Explain “for yourself” (v. 12) in view of
vv. 7-11.
Proverbs 9:7–12 (ESV) Whoever corrects a scoffer gets
himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man
incurs injury. 8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate
you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in
learning. 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is
insight. 11For by me your days will be multiplied, and
years will be added to your life. 12If you are wise, you
are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear
it.
12aIf you are wise, you are wise for yourself”
means that being wise brings many personal
bene ts to the one who embraces wisdom.
You grow in wisdom (v. 9).
You come to know God properly (v. 10).
Your life is extended (v. 11).
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1.
2.
3.
Group Project:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Read Proverbs 9:7-12.
What does this paragraph say about the wise?
What does this paragraph say about the scoffer?
Explain “for yourself” (v. 12) in view of vv. 7-11.
5. Explain how the scoffer “alone will bear
it” in light of vv. 7-11.
In the short run, “you alone will bear it”
(Proverbs 9:12b) seems untrue.
Proverbs 9:7–12 (ESV) Whoever corrects a
scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who
8
reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not
reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove
a wise man, and he will love you.
In the long run, what does the scoffer miss out
on ?
Proverbs 9:7–12 (ESV) Whoever corrects a scoffer gets
himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man
incurs injury. 8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate
you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in
learning. 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is
insight. 11For by me your days will be multiplied, and
years will be added to your life. 12If you are wise, you
are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear
it.
How do we know that the writer of proverbs
has “the long run” view of the scoffer in mind?
Keep reading the rest of the
chapter!!!
Proverbs 9:13–18 (ESV) The woman Folly is loud;
14
she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at
the door of her house; she takes a seat on the
15
highest places of the town, calling to those who
pass by, who are going straight on their way,
16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And
17
to him who lacks sense she says, “Stolen water
is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18But he does not know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Did Proverbs 9:13-18 explicitly say that the
scoffer is a guest of Woman Folly?
No
How do we know that the scoffer has given
himself over to folly?
Read the rest of Proverbs!!!
Proverbs 24:9 (ESV) The devising
of folly is sin, and the scoffer is
an abomination to mankind.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Take Aways:
Interpret a proverb by its parts.
Interpret a proverb within its paragraph.
Interpret a proverb within its chapter.
Interpret a proverb within the book of
proverbs.
Interpreting Proverbs
Part 2: How to Interpret “Contradictory”
Proverbs
What do we do with these 2 proverbs?
Proverbs 26:4–5 (ESV) Answer not a fool
according to his folly, lest you be like him
5
yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
First, we pray for insight.
Proverbs 26:4–5 (ESV) Answer not a fool
according to his folly, lest you be like him
5
yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Second, we remind ourselves about God.
Titus 1:2 (ESV) in hope of eternal life, which
God, who never lies, promised before the ages
began
Third, we remind ourselves about the nature of
scripture.
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2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) All Scripture is breathed
out by God and pro table for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness,
Fourth, we divide them into their parts.
Proverbs 26:4–5 (ESV) Answer not a fool
according to his folly, lest you be like him
5
yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Fourth, we divide them into their parts.
Proverbs 26:4–5 (ESV)
Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Fifth, we look for what’s synonymous.
Proverbs 26:4–5 (ESV)
Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Sixth, we look for what’s anthetical/different.
Proverbs 26:4–5 (ESV)
Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Seventh, we remember the nature of proverbs.
What is a proverb?
a short, salty saying
Are inspired proverbs true?
YES!!!
2 Timothy 3:16
Are proverbs a genre that spells out all of the
caveats of when and where they should be
applied?
NO!!!
If it did, it would become a paragraph and no
longer a maxim or short salty saying.
Are the following proverbs true?
Many hands make light work.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Do these proverbs invalidate each other?
Many hands make light work.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Do these proverbs invalidate each other?
The early bird get the worm.
Haste makes waste.
So which one applies?
Do these proverbs invalidate each other?
Where there’s smoke, there’s
re.
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
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So which one applies?
Which one applies?
Proverbs 26:4–5 (ESV)
Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
How do we know that sometimes it is wise to
rebuke a fool and sometime it is not wise to
rebuke a fool?
We let the book of Proverbs give us further
instruction.
How do we know that sometimes it is wise to
rebuke a fool and sometime it is not wise to
rebuke a fool?
In the long run:
Proverbs 24:25 (ESV) but those who rebuke
the wicked will have delight, and a good
blessing will come upon them.
How do we know that sometimes it is wise to
rebuke a fool and sometime it is not wise to
rebuke a fool?
In the short term:
Proverbs 9:7 (ESV) Whoever corrects a scoffer
gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a
wicked man incurs injury.
Proverbs 18:22 (ESV) He who nds a wife
nds a good thing and obtains favor from the
LORD.
Proverbs 21:9 (ESV) It is better to live in a
corner of the housetop than in a house shared
with a quarrelsome wife.
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Which proverb is true?
Proverbs 18:22 (ESV) He who nds a wife
nds a good thing and obtains favor from the
LORD.
Proverbs 21:9 (ESV) It is better to live in a
corner of the housetop than in a house shared
with a quarrelsome wife.
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How do we harmonise them?
Let other proverbs provide the clues.
Proverbs 31:10 (ESV) An excellent wife who
can nd? She is far more precious than jewels.
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Proverbs 19:14 (ESV) House and wealth are
inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is
from the LORD.
Let other proverbs provide the clues.
Proverbs 12:4 (ESV) An excellent wife is the
crown of her husband, but she who brings
shame is like rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 19:13 (ESV) A foolish son is ruin to
his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a
continual dripping of rain.
Take Aways:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Interpret a proverb by its parts.
Interpret a proverb within its paragraph.
Interpret a proverb within its chapter.
Interpret a proverb within the book of
proverbs.
5. The entire collection of proverbs informs
our interpretation of any one proverb.
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Ecclesiastes 12:9–12 (ESV) Besides being
wise, the Preacher also taught the people
knowledge, weighing and studying and
arranging many proverbs with great care.
10The Preacher sought to
nd words of
delight, and uprightly he wrote words of
11
truth. The words of the wise are like
goads, and like nails rmly xed are the
collected sayings; they are given by one
Shepherd.
