Wisdom Lecture #2  Diane Jacobson

Proverbs 10-31: Introduced and Explored

 

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Go to MyLutherNet, then to OT3114 or 3116, then to FORUM-Wisdom-FA06, then to Forums, and to Chosen Proverb. 

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I. How Does A Proverb Convey Meaning? Poetically

A.      Through Biblical Parallelism

            B.  With Imagery

                  1. Nature and natural elements - animals, agriculture, wind, fire

                  2. Parts of the body - mouth, lips, tongue, heart (b"l), bowels

                  3. Invocation of the divine

 

II. How Does A Proverb Convey Meaning? Formally

         A. Variety of proverbial forms

                  1. Saying (10:15; 11:24)

                  2. Didactic saying (14:31)

                  3. Aphorism

                  4. Admonition (16:3)

                  5. Similitude (25:14)

                  6. The “better than” proverb (15:16-17; 17:12)

                  7. The “Happy is...” (“blessed is”) proverb -- 'ashre (y"r:$a); Makarios)  (28:14)

                  8. Numerical Sayings (30:18-19; 24-28)

                  9. Parables and descriptions - (24:30-34; 23:29-35)

                  10. The Wisdom Speech (1:20-33; 8; 9:1-6)

                  11. The words of Agur (30:1-6)

                  12. liyax-te$") 'Isshah Hayil ‑ "The Woman of Worth" (31:10-31)

         B. Form vs. content

                  1. Imperative/Indicative (24:13; 12:18)

                  2. Descriptive/Prescriptive (27:7)

         C. Translating ve, :w -- a.k.a. watch your “ands,” “ors,” and “buts”

         D. Purpose and Context of a proverb -- Proverbs in Our Lives

 

III. How Does A Proverb Convey Meaning?  Contextually

         A. Through Proximity - Canonical Context (11:9-12; 11:24-28)

Proverbs 11:9-12
;Uc×"lfx¢y {yÛiqyiDac ta(èad:bU÷ UhÕ"("r tØix:$áy v¢nfxø hèep:B 9  

;h×fNir {yØi(f$:r  dÙobA)abU hÕfy:riq jØolA(aT {yiqyiDacø bUØ+:B 10

   ;s×"rfh"T {yèi(f$:r÷ yÛip:bU terÕfq {UØrfT {yirf$ºyø tØaK:rib:B÷÷ 11

 ;$y×irAxáy twØonUb:T $yÙi)ºw bÕ"l-rasAx UhÛ"("r:l-zfB ÷12

9   With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 Whoever belittles another lacks sense, but an intelligent person remains silent.

 

B.     Artificially - Catchword (15:13-15)

Proverbs 15:13-15
;h×f)"kºn  axUØr b"l÷-tab:Ca(:bU {yÕinfP bØi+y¢y ax"mf&ø bØ"l  13

;tel×eUi) hÛe(:réy {yèilyis:k÷  yÛipU  ta(ÕfD-$eQabºy }Obænø bØ"l ö 14

;dy×imft  hÛeT:$im bè"l÷-bw×o+ºw {yÕi(fr yØinf( yØ"mºy-lfK  15

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

14 The mind (heart) of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,

        but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15 All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

 

C.     By Contrast (26:4-5; 14:20-21) – asking the hermeneutical question.

Proverbs 26:4-5
 ;hfT×f)-{ag wÛoL-håw:$iT-}×eP wÕoT:láUi):K lyis:Kø }a(ØaT-la) 4

;wy×fny"(:B  {Øfkfx hÙey:héy-}eP wÕoT:láUi):K lyis:kø hØ"nA( 5

4 Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be a fool yourself.

5 Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.

 

Proverbs 14:20-21
20 The poor are disliked even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.

21 Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,

         but happy are those who are kind to the poor.

 

         D. With Common Imagery:

                  1. Tree of life ‑ 3:18; 11:30: 13:12; 15:4; (12:12)

                  2. Fountain of life ‑ 10:11; 13:14; 14:27; 16:22; (18:4; 25:26).

                  3. Common contrasting pairs: wise/fool; rich/poor; wicked/righteous; life/death

 

         E. With Common Subject Matter.

                  1. King: 25:1‑7

                  2. Creation: 22:2; 14:31; 17:5; 29:13; 20:12

                  3. Wealth and Poverty; Rich and Poor: 10:15; 11:4; 13:7-8; 14:20-21; 16:8; 18:11, 23;

                           19:1,4,7,17; 22:2,7,22; 28:6,11 (Question: Is there a social ethic to proverbs?)

                  4. Women: 11:22; 19:13; 21:9,19; 22:14; (25:24); 27:15‑16

                           a. The good wife 12:4; 18:22; 31:10ff.

                           b. The nature of disagreement

                  5. Corporeal punishment: 13:24; 19:18,25; 23:13‑14; 26:3; 29:15

                           a. The nature of disagreement

                           b. The question of authority: law vs. paradigm