Translation commentary on Proverbs 17:10

“A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding”: For “rebuke” see 13.1. “Goes deeper” refers to the impact or effect that the rebuke or correction has on a person’s behavior. “A man of understanding”, as in 1.5, refers here to an intelligent or wise person.

“Than a hundred blows into a fool”: The single correction for the wise person who learns quickly is compared to “a hundred blows” to the body of a fool. “Blows” are forcible strikes against the body made by an instrument such as a whip or stick. In this saying the “blows” are given to correct the person’s faults. Bible en français courant translates “A rebuke has more influence on an intelligent person than a hundred blows of a stick on a fool.” We may also say, for example, “A wise person learns more from a single correction than a fool learns from being beaten a hundred times.” See Good News Translation. In one language the verse is restructured to say “If you want to correct a thinking person, you talk to him just once and he understands. But if you want to correct a foolish person, you can hit him with a stick 100 times, and he will still not change his ways.”

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 17:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 17:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “A wise person listens/hears to a word of correction,
    but beating of a fool will not help.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The insight which a fool gets
    by being beaten a hundred times
    is gained by the wise through a single rebuke.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A wise-man can-learn in just one rebuke, but a fool man can- never -learn even-though how-many-times he will-be-beaten.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A thinking/reflective-person can easily understand a one-time advice, but the foolish-one, he is not able-to-understand even-though how-many hundred-times one beats (him).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Rebuking people who have good sense will accomplish more for them
    than hitting them 100 times with a stick.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 17:10

17:10

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

10a
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment

10b deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

In the Hebrew, there is an ellipsis in 17:10b. The Berean Standard Bible supplies the word “cuts,” but it is not present in the Hebrew. In some languages, the missing verb “cut” will need to be supplied from 17:10a, as the Berean Standard Bible models.

This proverb compares the ways that a discerning person and a fool respond to correction. A rebuke deeply affects a discerning person. Even a severe beating has little effect on a fool.

17:10a–b

A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool: Some ways to translate this comparison are:

• Make the comparison explicit. Emphasize the greater effect of a rebuke. For example:

A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool. (New Living Translation (2004))

• Make the comparison explicit. Emphasize the greater response of a sensible person. For example:

An intelligent person learns more from one rebuke than a fool learns from being beaten a hundred times. (Good News Translation)

• If this kind of comparison is difficult to understand in your language, leave the comparison implied. For example:

A sensible person accepts correction, but you can’t beat sense into a fool. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
A single rebuke causes an intelligent person to think about what he is doing. If someone beats a fool a hundred times, he still pays no attention.

17:10a

cuts into: The verb phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cuts into is literally “goes down into” or “penetrates.” Figuratively, this indicates that a rebuke goes down into the mind or inner being of a sensible person. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

• Use a similar figure of speech. For example:

A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding… (New American Standard Bible)

• Translate the meaning without using figurative language. See the Good News Translation or New Living Translation (2004) (quoted above).

man of discernment: The phrase man of discernment refers to a person who is sensible or intelligent.

17:10b

a hundred lashes: The phrase a hundred lashes is a hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration). It refers to many blows with a whip or rod. The purpose of the exaggeration is to emphasize that the fool does not respond properly to correction.

In some languages, a literal translation of this hyperbole may not express the right meaning. Another way to translate it is to use a different phrase that emphasizes the severity of the punishment. For example:

a severe beating/flogging

fool: The Hebrew word for fool (kǝsil) that is used here sometimes implies a ⌊complacent⌋ fool. Here, however, the context implies that this kind of fool is either very ⌊stupid⌋ or ⌊stubborn⌋ .

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