The Greek and Hebrew that is translated in English as “grain” (or: “corn”) is translated in Kui as “(unthreshed) rice.” Helen Evans (in The Bible Translator 1954, p. 40ff. ) explains: “Padddy [unthreshed rice] is the main crop of the country and rice the staple diet of the people, besides which [grain] is unknown and there is no word for it, and it seemed to us that paddy and rice in the mind of the Kui people stood for all that corn meant to the Jews.” “Paddy” is also the translation in Pa’o Karen (source: Gordon Luce in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 153f. ).
Other translations include: “wheat” (Teutila Cuicatec), “corn” (Lalana Chinantec), “things to eat” (Morelos Nahuatl), “grass corn” (wheat) (Chichimeca-Jonaz) (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), “millet” (Lambya) (source: project-specific notes in Paratext), “food” (Nyamwezi) (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)or ntimumma lujia / “seeds for food” (Lokạạ — “since Lokạạ does not have specific terms for maize and rice that can be described as grains”) (source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
The Hebrew that is typically translated in English as “power” or “might” or “force” is translated in the English translation by Goldingay (2018) as energy or energetic.
Verse 4 does not share a theme or have any catchwords (key terms in common) with the sayings before or after it.
“Where there are no oxen, there is no grain”: As the Revised Standard Version footnote suggests, this line is literally “Where there are no oxen, a manger of grain.” Two different terms for “ox” are used in this verse. In line 1 the Hebrew is a form used only in the plural and refers to castrated bulls used as work animals. The Hebrew word rendered “grain” by Revised Standard Version may also be taken to mean “clean” and is so translated by the Septuagint. In this sense the “manger” or feedbox is clean, and so empty. Whether the Hebrew text is changed, as in Revised Standard Version, or left unchanged, the sense seems to be the same: “If you don’t have oxen to plow a field, you won’t have grain to put in the feedbox.” This thought is reinforced by the second line, which affirms that it takes a strong work animal to produce a crop.
“But abundant crops come by the strength of the ox”: “Crops” renders an expression meaning “increase” or “yield” in reference to a harvest. The same expression is used in 10.16, where Revised Standard Version translates “gain.” “Strength” refers to the “might” or “power” of the work animal to pull a plow. The word for “ox” in line 2 is the common term used to refer to the same work animal in line 1. This word is also used in 7.22; however, there it is figurative and easier to adapt in translation. Here the reference is to a literal animal, and if the “ox” is unknown, it may be necessary to refer to another work animal, or use a general expression such as “animal used for working.” We may render this saying, for example, “Without an ox your barn will be empty, but with a strong ox you will have lots of grain.” Where “grain” is not the staple food, or where people are not very familiar with growing it, it is advisable to use a more general term for “crops”; for example, “If there is no bullock to break the ground, the food house will be empty; but if there is a bullock, there will be plenty of food in the garden [field].”
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 .
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 14:4:
Kupsabiny: “The granaries of a home will be empty when there is no ox, but harvest is much through the strength of an ox.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Where there are no oxen, the granary is also empty, With the help of oxen, one can reap a great harvest.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “If you (sing.) do not have an animal to plow you (sing.) have nothing to harvest, but if you (sing.) have an animal, and (it is) still strong, you (sing.) will-harvest many.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “If there is no animal for-helping with work, their eating-place is not put-in (i.e., filled), but if there is a strong cow, much is what one harvests.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
English: “If a man has no oxen to plow his field, he does not need to put grain in their feedbox, but if he has oxen, they will enable him to produce an abundant crop.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The English Standard Version has been used as the source line for 14:4a because it follows the recommended interpretation. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:
4a Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
4b but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
This verse implies that a person who owns no oxen will have the small advantage of a clean manger. Also, he will not have to feed or care for any animals. However, without a strong ox to help with the farm work, he will not enjoy the big advantage of a plentiful harvest.
14:4a
(English Standard Version) Where there are no oxen: The word that the English Standard Version translates as oxen can refer to either male or female oxen or cattle. It can also represent any animal that is used for working in the fields. Such work included pulling a plow or wagon or helping to thresh the grain.
In some languages, the logical connection between oxen, a clean feeding trough, and an abundant harvest may not be clear. To help the readers understand the connection, you may want to make explicit the implied information that oxen were used for work in the fields. For example:
If you have no oxen ⌊to help do the work⌋
(English Standard Version) the manger is clean: There is a textual issue in this clause. (The interpretation issue of “clean” or “empty” will be discussed following the textual issue.). In Hebrew, the word bar can mean either “pure/clean” or “grain.”
(1) The Masoretic Text has ʾebus bar, literally “manger clean.” For example:
the feeding trough is clean (NET Bible)
(2) Some scholars think that the original text had ʾepes bar, literally “no grain.” For example:
there can be no crop (Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with the LXX and most versions.
(English Standard Version) manger: The Hebrew word that the English Standard Version translates as manger refers specifically to a feeding trough or feedbox. For example:
the feeding trough (God’s Word)
If people in your area do not use a feeding trough, you may use a more general word or phrase that refers to a place to store grain or fodder for feeding the animals. For example:
the barn (New Century Version)
-or-
the granary
-or-
the place where you store food for the animals
(English Standard Version) clean: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew word that the English Standard Version translates here as clean :
(1) It means that the feedbox or storage area is clean. There is no manure or anything else to make it dirty. For example:
the feeding trough is clean (NET Bible)
-or-
a stable stays clean (New Living Translation (2004))
(2) The word “clean” implies “empty.” There is no grain or other animal food stored there. For example:
the feeding trough is empty (God’s Word)
-or-
your barn will be empty (Good News Translation)
Both interpretations are well supported by English versions. Many scholars point out that there is little practical difference between them and that each interpretation implies the other. It is recommended that you translate in a way that combines both interpretations. For example:
the place where you put food for the animals will be empty and clean
See the meaning lines in the Display for two other examples that combine the interpretations. If you prefer to follow one interpretation, choose the interpretation that
(a) makes good sense to people in your language area and
(b) forms a logical contrast with 14:4b.
14:4b
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox: There are two ways to interpret the word harvest :
(1) It refers to crops that are harvested. For example:
abundant crops (English Standard Version)
(2) It refers to money from the sale of crops that are harvested. For example:
much cash (New Jerusalem Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars. There is no evidence that the Hebrew word for harvest refers to money from the sale of crops.
In some languages, it is not natural to say that a harvest comes from the strength of the ox. Some other ways to express the meaning are:
But with a strong ox, much grain can be grown. (New Century Version)
-or-
but an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen (NET Bible)
-or-
but you need a strong ox for a large harvest (New Living Translation (2004))
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