This verse gives a definition of the ““Scoffer”” or arrogant person. It is a single sentence containing a number of similar terms heaped together.

““Scoffer” is the name of the proud, haughty man”: The Hebrew is literally “proud arrogant scoffer his name.” The meanings of the individual words are clear enough, but it is difficult to know which word or words to take as the subject of the sentence. New Revised Standard Version, for instance, makes this whole line the subject, “The proud, haughty person, named ‘Scoffer’ . . ..” Revised English Bible, on the other hand, takes just the first term as the subject, “The conceited man is. . ..” Translators may take either of these as a model. For comments on “Scoffer” see 1.22.

“Who acts with arrogant pride”: This line contains the only verb form in Hebrew, the participle “doing” or “acting” (Revised Standard Version “who acts”). New Revised Standard Version makes this the main verb of the sentence: “. . . acts with arrogant pride.” New Living Translation is similar with “they act with boundless arrogance.” “In arrogant pride” is literally “in excess of insolence” or “in outburst of presumption”; it describes a person who acts with bold disregard for laws and customs. Good News Translation “inconsiderate” comes somewhere near this sense.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .