17:14
The second line is a warning to avoid the bad consequences of “starting a quarrel” in the first line.
14a To start a quarrel is to release a flood;
14b so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
17:14a
To start a quarrel is to release a flood: In Hebrew, this line is a metaphor, as in the Berean Standard Bible. The Hebrew is literally “Releasing water—the start of a quarrel.” In this metaphor, To start a quarrel is compared to releasing water. It is implied that:
(a) This water is restrained by a dam or dike.
(b) Someone releases the water by making an opening. The opening will quickly grow larger if the water continues to flow.
Almost all English versions translate this metaphor as a simile. For example:
The beginning of strife is like letting out water (English Standard Version)
-or-
Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam (New Century Version)
-or-
The start of an argument is like the first break in a dam (Good News Translation)
17:14b
so abandon the dispute before it breaks out: A leak in a dam will quickly get worse if it is not repaired. Similarly, “a quarrel” (17:14a) will soon lead to something more serious if it is not stopped at once.
abandon: In Hebrew, this word often means “forsake” (see 1:8). Here it probably means to stop or to desist from a quarrel.
dispute: In Hebrew, this word sometimes refers to a legal dispute or court case. Here, it is recommended that you not limit the word to a court context. It probably refers to any situation in which a quarrel intensifies or gets out of control. For example:
so stop it before a fight breaks out (New Century Version)
-or-
so stop before the argument gets out of control (God’s Word)
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