2:3

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

3a if you truly call out to insight

3b and lift your voice to understanding

2:3a–b

if you truly: This verse begins with a Hebrew word that is usually translated as “for/because.” The Berean Standard Bible translates it as truly here. There are at least two ways to interpret this word here:

(1) This word indicates emphasis. For example:

if you indeed cry out for insight (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
yes, if your plea is for clear perception (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) This word does not indicate emphasis. It merely shows that the “if” clauses are being continued from 2:1. It may be omitted in translation. For example:

Cry out for wisdom (New Century Version)

Both interpretations fit the context. You may follow either one. The Display will follow interpretation (1).

call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding: To lift your voice is a more intense expression than to call out. This implies that if insight and good sense do not come immediately, you should try harder to receive them. Scholars agree that call out and lift your voice mean “to summon,” “to call for insight/understanding to come.”

In some languages, this personification may be difficult to understand. One way to translate it without using the figure of speech is:

strongly desire to gain insight/understanding

insight…understanding: In this context, since insight (Hebrew: binah) and understanding (Hebrew: tǝbunah) are parallel and since both are referred to by the single “it” in 2:4, they should be regarded simply as different words for “wisdom,” not as separate concepts.

General Comment on 2:3a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts of this verse. For example:

Beg as loud as you can for good common sense (Contemporary English Version)

© 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.