How to translate Proverbs 28:5

Eric Martin · Oct 30, 2018

Hello,

I see two quite different translations of Proverbs 28:5 into English.

In the NIV the verse is translated: "Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully." Here it is on BibleHub.

Many translations are similar, but some of the more literal translations such as the HCSB and the NASB seem to say that those who seek the Lord will understand all things or everything. This seems quite different from fully understanding what is right, unless perhaps what is right means you understand everything... but for this question I'm not worried about that.

The NASB, for the second part of the verse, says, "But those who seek the LORD understand all things."

I'm curious what the better translation is. I know essentially nothing about Hebrew, but it looks like many English translators who know Hebrew think that "understand all" (as it looks to me in the Hebrew, which I'm only basing on the interlinear translation from BibleHub) implies that we will "understand all" about "what is right", I guess because that's what the text just prior to it was talking about.

I'm guessing there's much more nuance to this than what I'm seeing, so I'd love to hear your thoughts on what the best translation is for this verse. I'd love to seek the Lord and then understand everything, but I also don't want to get my hopes up! Thanks!

2PhiloVoid · Oct 30, 2018

Eric Martin said:
Hello,

I see two quite different translations of Proverbs 28:5 into English.

In the NIV the verse is translated: "Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully." Here it is on BibleHub.

Many translations are similar, but some of the more literal translations such as the HCSB and the NASB seem to say that those who seek the Lord will understand all things or everything. This seems quite different from fully understanding what is right, unless perhaps what is right means you understand everything... but for this question I'm not worried about that.

The NASB, for the second part of the verse, says, "But those who seek the LORD understand all things."

I'm curious what the better translation is. I know essentially nothing about Hebrew, but it looks like many English translators who know Hebrew think that "understand all" (as it looks to me in the Hebrew, which I'm only basing on the interlinear translation from BibleHub) implies that we will "understand all" about "what is right", I guess because that's what the text just prior to it was talking about.

I'm guessing there's much more nuance to this than what I'm seeing, so I'd love to hear your thoughts on what the best translation is for this verse. I'd love to seek the Lord and then understand everything, but I also don't want to get my hopes up! Thanks!

Hi Eric, and welcome to CF!

You're asking a question here that isn't one we have a comprehensive, systematic answer to. But being that, like you, I've attempted to be a student of what I call the "Epistemological Indices" within the Bible, one of which seems to be embedded in the verse you've very appropriately brought up for discussion here, I'll just say that it does seem that God intends to give more wisdom and understanding to those who follow His Will than He does to those who don't.

From the looks of the verse you're analyzing, I don't think it means that God is going to give us ALL the answers we could ever want, but it does mean is that God will give us some additional insights about how to understand this life and this world we're living in.

Eric Martin · Oct 30, 2018

Thank you for the welcome and the ideas!

Eric Martin · Oct 30, 2018

2PhiloVoid said:
Hi Eric, and welcome to CF!

You're asking a question here that isn't one we have a comprehensive, systematic answer to. But being that, like you, I've attempted to be a student of what I call the "Epistemological Indices" within the Bible, one of which seems to be embedded in the verse you've very appropriately brought up for discussion here, I'll just say that it does seem that God intends to give more wisdom and understanding to those who follow His Will than He does to those who don't.

From the looks of the verse you're analyzing, I don't think it means that God is going to give us ALL the answers we could ever want, but it does mean is that God will give us some additional insights about how to understand this life and this world we're living in.

Thank you for the welcome and the ideas!

2PhiloVoid · Oct 30, 2018

Eric Martin said:
Thank you for the welcome and the ideas!

No problem, Eric! So, upon reading and thinking further about this verse, what meaning do you think it may have for us in our Christian lives?

Eric Martin · Oct 30, 2018

2PhiloVoid said:
No problem, Eric! So, upon reading and thinking further about this verse, what meaning do you think it may have for us in our Christian lives?

It reminds me of "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 (NIV). It seems like that's talking about physical necessities, but it all makes me think that seeking God is the best, or one of the best, things that we can do. If we do that, we're good to go.

2PhiloVoid · Oct 30, 2018

Eric Martin said:
It reminds me of "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 (NIV). It seems like that's talking about physical necessities, but it all makes me think that seeking God is the best, or one of the best, things that we can do. If we do that, we're good to go.

I'd say this is a good insight you're bringing up, and it provides another nuance to how we might think about the benefits of being 'in-line' with God's Will in our lives. He cares for us and He wants to provide things for us that will help us carry on His Work and our relationship with Him.

2PhiloVoid · Oct 30, 2018

Eric Martin said:
Hello,

I see two quite different translations of Proverbs 28:5 into English.

In the NIV the verse is translated: "Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully." Here it is on BibleHub.

Many translations are similar, but some of the more literal translations such as the HCSB and the NASB seem to say that those who seek the Lord will understand all things or everything. This seems quite different from fully understanding what is right, unless perhaps what is right means you understand everything... but for this question I'm not worried about that.

The NASB, for the second part of the verse, says, "But those who seek the LORD understand all things."

I'm curious what the better translation is. I know essentially nothing about Hebrew, but it looks like many English translators who know Hebrew think that "understand all" (as it looks to me in the Hebrew, which I'm only basing on the interlinear translation from BibleHub) implies that we will "understand all" about "what is right", I guess because that's what the text just prior to it was talking about.

I'm guessing there's much more nuance to this than what I'm seeing, so I'd love to hear your thoughts on what the best translation is for this verse. I'd love to seek the Lord and then understand everything, but I also don't want to get my hopes up! Thanks!

As to which translation of the Hebrew is a better one, it's not easy to tell. But I'm going to go with the hermeneutical principle that we need to take all of the rest of Scripture into consideration as we ponder what we think the more likely connotations are of Proverbs 28:5. However, this might become a little problematic if we find that in the course of studying the entire Bible, God has apparently intended to give us a comprehensive understanding of everything.

Eric Martin · Oct 30, 2018

2PhiloVoid said:
As to which translation of the Hebrew is a better one, it's not easy to tell. But I'm going to go with the hermeneutical principle that we need to take all of the rest of Scripture into consideration as we ponder what we think the more likely connotations are of Proverbs 28:5. However, this might become a little problematic if we find that in the course of studying the entire Bible, God has apparently intended to give us a comprehensive understanding of everything.

This made me laugh a little. The second part of Psalm 147:5 says, "His understanding is infinite." You've got me thinking about more of the Bible. In Luke 17:5-6 Jesus' disciples ask him to increase their faith. He responded that even with a tiny amount of faith (a mustard seed) they would have access to superhuman power. Sometimes I wonder whether this applies to us or just the disciples then. I recently read the scripture around this portion, and to untrained me some of it seems almost unrelated to the rest. But I bring up the mustard seed story to say that it seems like Jesus would be happy for us to have superhuman power, so why not be happy with us having superhuman understanding?

2PhiloVoid · Oct 30, 2018

Eric Martin said:
This made me laugh a little. The second part of Psalm 147:5 says, "His understanding is infinite." You've got me thinking about more of the Bible. In Luke 17:5-6 Jesus' disciples ask him to increase their faith. He responded that even with a tiny amount of faith (a mustard seed) they would have access to superhuman power. Sometimes I wonder whether this applies to us or just the disciples then. I recently read the scripture around this portion, and to untrained me some of it seems almost unrelated to the rest. But I bring up the mustard seed story to say that it seems like Jesus would be happy for us to have superhuman power, so why not be happy with us having superhuman understanding?

Whoops! I got clumsy with my keyboard. In that previous post, it was supposed to say, "However, this might become a little problematic if we find that in the course of studying the entire Bible, God hasn't apparently intended to give us a comprehensive understanding of everything."

So, I'll reiterate. The verse you're asking about surely does imply that God wants to bestow wisdom and understanding upon those of us who give Him our hearts and want to follow after Him. And, like you're additional point with the 'Mustard Seed,' we could be amazed at just how this knowledge might expand for us. But, I do think there will be limits for us, even though what we'll get will be, I'm sure, awesome to ponder.

Sorry about any confusion I may have caused with my previous post.

Eric Martin · Oct 30, 2018

2PhiloVoid said:
Whoops! I got clumsy with my keyboard. In that previous post, it was supposed to say, "However, this might become a little problematic if we find that in the course of studying the entire Bible, God hasn't apparently intended to give us a comprehensive understanding of everything."

So, I'll reiterate. The verse you're asking about surely does imply that God wants to bestow wisdom and understanding upon those of us who give Him our hearts and want to follow after Him. And, like you're additional point with the 'Mustard Seed,' we could be amazed at just how this knowledge might expand for us. But, I do think there will be limits for us, even though what we'll get will be, I'm sure, awesome to ponder.

Sorry about any confusion I may have caused with my previous post.

No problem. Thanks!

Radagast · Oct 30, 2018

Eric Martin said:
I see two quite different translations of Proverbs 28:5 into English.

The Hebrew doesn't seem to be entirely clear. Recent literal translations go both ways.

ESV: ... but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

CSB: ... but those who seek the Lord understand everything.

Ron Gurley · Nov 10, 2018

do not understand

h995

justice

h4941

But those who seek

h1245

the LORD

h3068

understand

h995

all

h3605

things

h360כֹּ

How to translate Proverbs 28:5

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

comes and goes

What U See is What U Get!

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency