17:26
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
26a It is surely not good to punish the innocent
26b or to flog a noble for his honesty.
The context of this verse is probably a legal case. Both lines describe unjust punishments of innocent people. The second line probably describes a more severe or unjust situation than the first line.
17:26a
It is surely not good: In this context, the phrase not good means “not right” (Revised English Bible).
to punish: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as punish refers specifically to imposing a fine on someone. Many English versions translate this word with the more general meaning punish, like the Berean Standard Bible. It is very acceptable to translate it this way. However, the specific term better emphasizes the progression from a relatively minor fine/payment to a more severe flogging or beating.
the innocent: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as innocent is often translated as “righteous.” In this context, it refers to someone who is not guilty of a crime, so innocent accurately expresses the meaning.
Some other ways to translate this line are:
It is wrong to fine a person who has not committed a crime.
-or-
It is not right to make an innocent person pay a fine (Good News Translation)
-or-
It isn’t fair to punish the innocent (Contemporary English Version)
17:26b
or to flog a noble for his honesty: There are different interpretations for both phrases in this line. Some ways to translate the whole line will be given after the interpretations for each phrase have been discussed.
to flog a noble: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to flog a noble is literally “to flog nobles.” There are two ways to interpret the word “nobles.”
(1) It refers to people of high moral character. For example:
those of noble mind (Revised English Bible)
-or-
honorable men (NET Bible)
(2) It refers to people of high rank or status. For example:
leaders (New Century Version)
-or-
the great (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most scholars. This meaning forms a better parallel with “the innocent” in 17:26a.
for his honesty: In Hebrew, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for his honesty is literally “against/according to uprightness.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:
(1) The phrase means “against uprightness.” It refers to a punishment that is “unjust” or “not right.” For example:
…is an injustice (New Jerusalem Bible)
(2) The phrase means “according to ⌊their⌋ uprightness.” It refers to a punishment that is given to people of noble status or character because of their integrity or honesty. For example:
for being honest (New Century Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It provides a better parallel for the phrase “not good” in 17:26a.
Some ways to translate this whole line are:
It is wrong to inflict blows on those of noble mind (Revised English Bible)
-or-
justice is perverted when good people are punished (Good News Translation)
-or-
and to flog honorable men is wrong (NET Bible)
General Comment on 17:26a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:
It isn’t fair to punish the innocent and those who do right. (Contemporary English Version)
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