Question about Proverbs 16:25

[GraceC]

I was reading the ESV and NIV side-by-side in my YouVersion app and noticed the difference in translation in Proverbs 16:25

ESV
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

NIV
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

I'm not sure if I'm seeing a problem or not but to me leaving off "to a man" kinda weakens the meaning of this verse. What are your opinions? Am I seeing an issue that just isn't there?

 

[childofdust]

I was reading the ESV and NIV side-by-side in my YouVersion app and noticed the difference in translation in Proverbs 16:25

ESV
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

NIV
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

I'm not sure if I'm seeing a problem or not but to me leaving off "to a man" kinda weakens the meaning of this verse. What are your opinions? Am I seeing an issue that just isn't there?

There's a lot problems with those translations.

First of all, there's nothing in the Hebrew that has anything to do with “seeming” or “appearing.” The Hebrew says “THERE IS a right way.”

Normally, since these are proverbs, and they represent wisdom sayings, which by definition apply to all people, they would not be gender specific. However, given the structure of Proverbs, which presents itself like a man talking to his son, and given many of the themes it presents such as a man not being lured by a “strange” or “foreign” woman, and how the ways of the strange woman lead to death... and given the gender shift that takes place in the verse, I would translate it very literally and pay attention to the gender. Here is how I would translate it:

“There is a right way facing a man, but the result of her [is] the ways of death.”

By translating “her” as “it,” those translations ignore the shift in gender. “Right way” is masculine, not feminine. “It” is feminine, not masculine. They don't belong together. Sure, it's possible—especially in poetry—that gender can shift. But I don't think its coincidence or normal poetic style that makes it change from “right way” to “her.” This seems to relate to an idea seen in many other places in Proverbs where the ways of Lady Folly lead to death. And if a man goes after a married woman or a street woman, he puts his life on the line. Thus, there is a right way facing a man—to be with a woman who appeals to him—but unless she is the right kind of woman, the man is going to fall into a lot of trouble.

I think that is the point of the proverb. And so it not only needs to say man, but it needs to say "her" instead of going all gender-neutral on the "it."

 

[childofdust]

From my in-progress translation of Proverbs:

3 For the strange [woman's] lips drip honey
and smoother than oil [is] her palate.
4 But the result of her [is] bitter like wormwood,
sharp like a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet descend [to] death.
[To] the underworld, her steps stick.
6 The way of life, she does not consider.
[Though] her tracks wander, she is clueless.
7 And now, sons, listen to me.
Do not stray from what I say.
8 Keep your path far from her.
Do not come close to her 'entryway.'
--Proverbs 5:3-8, the heavenly fire

The Hebrew phrase is the same here as it is in 16:25. Exactly the same.

 

[com7fy8]

ESV
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

NIV
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

As translated, Grace C, the second one can have an unwritten meaning of "right to you", so that you take this personally - - how we all need to always be discerning about how things seem to us.

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment." (Philippians 1:9)

Yes, of course, as has been said above, a woman can be taking a man in a bad way. So, also, men can take women a bad way . . . while a woman is so sure a wrong man is even the greatest guy there is.

So, we need to be discerning . . . so we are not fooling ourselves into trusting the wrong person. Only with our Father can we succeed in knowing who to trust and how to evaluate each person. This comes with becoming real in God's love for any and all people, so we are not getting crazy about only some one person as though he or she is so greater than all others.

In God's love all-loving we are unselfish so we have His honest character for honestly sensing who is really who. So, if I am fooled by someone, this is not really that person's fault, I now consider . . . if my own way of evaluating people is not honest with me; I mean, our own way of evaluating people may be what's not honest. Often, I have fooled myself because I wanted to use someone for what I want > using is not loving!!

In this world's culture, people have been groomed to put on and look for that "you can use me" act. We look for someone who talks smart so we can be sure the person can understand and do what we want. And we seek someone charming so we are sure the person will be nice about doing what we want. Then . . . in selfishness . . . we "fall in love with" who we feel we can use to spoil us.

But, if we obey Jesus, then we can become able to know who and what is truly good for us. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (in Luke 9:23) If we deny ourselves and our way of evaluating people, we can learn how love with Jesus and be guided by Him, how He has us trusting.

God bless you

Bill