20:24
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
24a
A man’s steps are from the LORD.
24b so how can anyone understand his own way ?
The second line gives the result of the first line. The LORD is the one who determines the course of a person’s life. So no human can understand what will happen in his own life.
The first line of this proverb has the same meaning as 16:9a. See the notes on 16:9a.
20:24a
A man’s steps: The phrase A man’s steps is a figure of speech that represents the direction or outcome of a person’s life. It refers to the things that happen to him. The Good News Translation uses a related figure of speech. It has:
our path
are from the LORD: In Hebrew, the phrase are from the LORD is literally “from the LORD.” Most English versions supply a verb such as “directed” (New International Version) or “determined” (Good News Translation) to clarify the meaning.
The Revised English Bible emphasizes the contrast between the LORD’s control of events and a person’s inability to know what will happen. It has:
It is the Lord who directs a person’s steps
20:24b
so how can anyone understand his own way?: This is a rhetorical question. Its function is to emphasize that no one can fully know or understand the direction that his own life will take. The phrase his own way has the same meaning as “a man’s steps.” Some other ways to express the emphasis in this rhetorical question are:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
how can anyone understand the road he travels? (Revised English Bible)
• Change the rhetorical question to a statement. For example:
It is not possible for a person to know what will happen in his own life.
General Comment on 20:24a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to give the result before the reason. For example:
24b No one can know where he will walk, 24a because the LORD is the one who determines his steps.
See also 20:24a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.
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