5:14–15
In 5:14–15 the author compared the man to a statue, and he used poetic figures of speech. He did not intend for readers to interpret the figures of speech literally.
5:14a
His arms are rods of gold: This clause is a metaphor that compares the man’s arms to rods of gold. The word rods implies that the man’s arms were well-shaped and powerful. The word gold implies that his arms were precious like gold. It may also imply that the color of his skin was beautiful like gold.
Some other ways to translate the metaphor are:
• Use a simile. For example:
His arms are like rounded bars of gold (New Living Translation (2004))
• Use a simile and make the meaning more explicit. For example:
His arms are as ⌊precious/beautiful⌋ as golden bars/poles.
Translate the metaphor in a natural and appealing way in your language.
arms: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as arms can refer to either a person’s hand (from the wrist to the fingertips) or to his arm (from the shoulder to the fingertips). Scholars differ about whether it refers to the man’s arms or to his hands in this context.
(1) It refers to his arms. For example:
His arms are rods of gold… (New International Version)
(2) It refers to his hands. For example:
His hands are golden, rounded… (New Jerusalem Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The meaning arms fits the description of being like rounded gold. It is also more parallel to “legs” in the next verse (5:15), since both arms and legs are larger limbs of the body.
5:14b
set with beryl: The phrase set with beryl indicates here that jewels, such as beryl, were embedded in the gold. Some other ways to translate this phrase is:
covered with jewels (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
with inlaid jewels
-or-
adorned/decorated with jewels
beryl: The exact meaning of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beryl is uncertain. Some English versions use a general term, such as jewels (Revised Standard Version). Other versions use a specific type of jewel, such as chrysolite, beryl (Berean Standard Bible), or topaz. In this verse the author did not focus on a specific jewel but on the beauty and value that the jewels added to the gold and to the man’s glory. It is fine to use a general term here.
5:14c
His body is an ivory panel: In this phrase the author continued to compare the man’s body to a statue. People sometimes used ivory to carve statues. Ivory comes from the tusks (teeth) of elephants, and it is valuable and beautiful. The phrase His body is an ivory panel indicates that the man’s body was as beautiful as ivory.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
His body is like polished ivory (New International Version)
-or-
His body is ⌊beautiful/precious⌋ like the tusk/teeth of elephants
His body:
The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as His body has several meanings. In this context it probably refers to the outside of the man’s body, especially the stomach or abdominal area, possibly up to the chest. Some other ways to translate it are:
His abdomen (NET Bible)
-or-
His torso/belly
an ivory panel: The phrase ivory panel indicates that people work on the ivory in some way to make it more beautiful. They may polish it or carve it. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
polished/shining ivory
-or-
carved/decorated ivory
5:14d
bedecked with sapphires: The phrase bedecked with sapphires indicates that the ivory in 5:14c was decorated with the blue jewels called sapphires. It probably implies that the sapphires were embedded in the ivory. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
decorated with sapphires (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
covered with sapphires (God’s Word)
-or-
adorned with beautiful/precious stones
-or-
glowing with lapis lazuli (New Living Translation (2004))
sapphires: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sapphires refers to a blue gem stone, probably “lapis lazuli,” as in the New Living Translation (2004). If lapis lazuli is not known in your area, some other ways to translate it are:
• Use a different precious stone that is blue or bluish. For example:
sapphires (Revised Standard Version)
• Use a general term for jewels. For example:
⌊ blue⌋jewels
-or-
precious stones
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