This saying is about the person who will not listen to advice; for other similar sayings see 13.18 and 15.10.

“He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck”: “He who is often reproved” is literally “a man of reproofs,” where “reproofs,” as in 1.23, refers to correction or warning. The Hebrew plural meaning “reproofs” is expressed by Revised Standard Version as “often reproved”. See Good News Translation “every time you are corrected.” “Stiffens his neck” is also used, for example, in Jer 7.26 and 17.23. To stiffen or harden your neck means to be stubborn, and in this context to oppose teaching or correction. See Good News Translation. In some languages the equivalent of “stiffens his neck” is “has a blind heart,” “hardens his head,” or “always says ‘No.'” Contemporary English Version translates this line “If you keep being stubborn after many warnings.”

“Will suddenly be broken beyond healing”: In Hebrew this line is identical to 6.15b. See there for comments.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .