Translation commentary on Proverbs 11:16

This verse has been disputed by interpreters. It is not certain in the Hebrew text if the contrast is between “honor” and “riches”, between “women” and “men”, or between “gracious” and “violent” ways of obtaining a person’s goals. It has also been pointed out that this is the only verse in Proverbs that makes a contrast between man and woman.

“A gracious woman gets honor”: “Gracious” describes a woman whose form and appearance are lovely, graceful, attractive. “Gets honor” means she receives praise or respect. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project considers the word rendered “honor” a “C” and supports Revised Standard Version by translating “gets honor” as “gets glory.” New Revised Standard Version has revised Revised Standard Version and follows the Septuagint, which has two additional lines. Good News Translation also follows the Septuagint, but this approach is not recommended to translators.

“And violent men get riches”: The translation “violent men” has been questioned. Some hold that it means “vigorous,” and so Revised English Bible has “bold.” Others appeal to the Septuagint and get “diligent”; however, most versions follow Revised Standard Version with “violent” or a term of similar meaning, and we recommend this to translators. For “riches” see 3.16.

Whybray examines the various solutions proposed for the interpretation of the verse and concludes that two solutions are the most likely. The first is the idea that gentle methods such as those employed by the “gracious woman” can accomplish more than “violence” or bold aggression because it is more important to get “honor” or glory than to get “riches”. In this case we may translate, for example, “It is better to be gracious and get honor than to be violent and get riches.”

Alternatively, Whybray suggests a simile “As energetic men acquire riches, so a charming woman gains honor.”

Contemporary English Version contrasts the manner in which a woman gets respect, that is, by being gracious, with the way a man gets wealth, by hard work: “A gracious woman will be respected, but a man must work hard to get rich.”

Contemporary English Version has a footnote to the second line, which says “Or ‘a ruthless man will only get rich.'”

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 .

complete verse (Proverbs 11:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 11:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “A good woman is respected/honored,
    but a man who fights, gets wealth/riches.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A humble woman will be respected by everyone,
    hard hearted people only gather property.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A kind woman gets/gains/[lit. harvests] honor, but a cruel man is just only in possessing wealth.
    A lazy man will-become-poor, but an industrious man will-become-rich.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The merciful/kind woman, she is praised. The man who has no mercy/kindness, it is just wealth that he is able to gain.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “People honor/respect women who are kind/gracious;
    ruthless/violent people may get a lot of money, but that is all that they will get.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 11:16

11:16

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

16a
A gracious woman attains honor,

16b but ruthless men gain only wealth.

There is a contrast between a woman (singular) and men (plural). There are also contrasts between gracious and ruthless and between honor and wealth.

11:16a–b

A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth: There is a textual difference in this verse:

(1) The Masoretic Text has only two lines. They compare a woman and men. For example:

A gracious woman wins respect, but ruthless men gain riches. (God’s Word)

(2) The LXX has four lines. The first two lines compare two kinds of women. The last two lines compare two kinds of men. English versions translate the last two lines in a way that could refer to men or women. For example:

A gracious lady is respected, but a woman without virtue is a disgrace.

Lazy people will never have money, but aggressive people will get rich. (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions and scholars.

11:16a

A gracious woman: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “a woman of grace.” In this context, “grace” refers to a charming or attractive personality that will win the favor of others. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

a kind woman (New Century Version)
-or-
a kindhearted woman (New International Version)

11:16b

but ruthless men: The word ruthless refers here to cruel men who show no mercy. They use violence to terrify and overcome their victims. Some other ways to translate this word are:

violent (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
cruel (New Century Version)

gain only wealth: The word only does not occur here in Hebrew. However, it is probably implied, since gaining wealth contrasts with gaining respect. The implication is that cruel men do not earn the respect of other people.

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