The theme of this saying is the value of a good reputation. The two lines are parallel and have essentially the same meaning.

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches”: The first word of the verse in Hebrew is the verb “is to be chosen”, a passive form of the verb “choose”; it serves as the verb for the second line as well as the first. Here it has the sense of what people choose because it is “more desirable” (New International Version), “preferable” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “worth much more” (Contemporary English Version). For “A good name” the Hebrew has simply “name”; a person’s name meant their reputation or standing in the community. It is clear from the matching element in the second line, and from the sense of the whole saying, that its meaning here is “a good reputation.” “Great riches” is the common way of expressing “a lot of money and possessions.”

“And favor is better than silver or gold”: “Favor” (“good favor” in Hebrew) is the term that matches “name” in the first line. In this context it means being well accepted, respected, or “esteemed” (New International Version) by other people. “Is better” is put in by Revised Standard Version and other translations to repeat the verb from the first line. “Silver” and “gold” have the same meaning as “great riches”.

Since the meaning of the two lines is very similar, some translations make them into a single sentence; Contemporary English Version, for example, says: “A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.” In one Pacific language this is expressed as “If people recognize you as a good person and they honor you, that is better than being rich.” See also Good News Translation.

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 .