13:17
Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:
17a
A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
17b but a faithful envoy brings healing.
13:17a–b
A wicked messenger…a faithful envoy: No distinction is intended between the words messenger and envoy. Both were sent to deliver important messages or to represent the people who sent them in political or business dealings. The main contrast is between a messenger who is wicked and one who is faithful, reliable, or loyal. In contrast to the word faithful in 13:17b, the word wicked implies a person who is untrustworthy. Another way to translate it is:
unreliable (Good News Translation)
13:17a
falls into trouble: There is a textual difference that involves the word falls :
(1) The Masoretic Text (MT) has the word yippol “falls.” The meaning of this text is that the messenger himself experiences trouble or disaster. For example:
An undependable messenger gets into trouble (God’s Word)
(2) Some scholars think that the original text was yappil “causes to fall.” The meaning of this text is that the messenger causes trouble for others. For example:
Unreliable messengers cause trouble (Good News Translation)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions and scholars. The MT makes good sense in the context. Although option (2) provides a more exact contrast with 13:17b, that is not a sufficient reason for proposing a different text.
13:17b
brings healing: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as healing can also mean “health” or “remedy.” In this context, it should be understood figuratively. It refers to the welfare or peace of mind of the community to which the messenger is sent. Another way to translate this is:
but those who can be trusted bring peace (Good News Translation)
© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.