1:6

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

6a by understanding proverbs and parables,

6b
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

There is an ellipsis in 1:6b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 1:6a. For example:

6b
⌊by understanding⌋ the sayings and riddles of the wise

There are two main ways to interpret the connection of 1:6:

(1) Proverbs 1:6 connects back to 1:1 as one of the four purposes of the proverbs. It applies to people in general. The New International Version indicates this by setting off 1:5 with dashes as a parenthesis. The New Jerusalem Bible reorders 1:6 before 1:5 so that the four purpose statements are not interrupted by the parenthetical command in 1:5. Here is another way to translate this:

Then anyone can understand wise words… (New Century Version)

(2) Proverbs 1:6 connects back to 1:5 as a purpose for the wise to add to their knowledge. For example:

so that they can understand… (Good News Translation)

(3) Proverbs 1:6 connects back to 1:5 as a means by which the wise add to their knowledge. For example:

by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables… (New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it follows the pattern of each Hebrew purpose clause relating equally to the title in 1:1. It also seems more reasonable to think that the book of Proverbs would help all readers, not only the wise, to understand parables, riddles, and other wise sayings.

1:6a

parables: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as parables is used only three times in the Old Testament. It probably refers to any figurative saying that is difficult to understand unless someone interprets its meaning. It may include shorter sayings, such as metaphors, or longer sayings, such as parables. Some other ways to translate this word are:

obscure sayings (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
clever saying (God’s Word)
-or-
stories (New Century Version)
-or-
figures (New Revised Standard Version)

1:6b

the sayings and riddles of the wise: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the sayings and riddles of the wise is literally “sayings of the wise and their riddles.” Both sayings and riddles come from the wise.

riddles: The Hebrew word has a broader meaning than the English word riddles. It refers to any puzzling saying or difficult question that needs to be interpreted or answered.

General Comment on 1:6a–b

The four terms listed in these verse parts overlap in meaning. In some languages, the same range of meaning may be expressed by fewer or more terms.

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