cruel messenger

The Hebrew in Proverbs 17:11 that is translated as “cruel messenger” in English is translated in Newari as “people having hearts without blood” (source: Newari Back Translation).

messenger

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “messenger” in English is translated in Noongar as moort yana-waangki or “person walk-talk” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

complete verse (Proverbs 17:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 17:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “A wicked person is an opposer/rebel,
    but a fierce person will be sent to punish (him).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Evil people are always creating obstacles,
    cruel people [Lit.: people having hearts without blood]
    will be sent to punish [people] like that.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A wicked man always want to look for trouble, therefore a fierce/violent man will-be-sent to him to punish him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The continual purpose of the bad person, he opposes the government, but the king will send a servant with no mercy to catch him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Because wicked people are always trying to cause trouble,
    someone will be sent to severely punish them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 17:11

“An evil man seeks only rebellion”: Some interpreters understand this line to say “rebellion seeks an evil man,” but the Revised Standard Version rendering seems to give the correct sense and is more natural. Some understand this line to refer to political or military rebellion; but Whybray thinks it refers to rebellion against God. If that is so, the translation may say, for example, “An evil person seeks only to disobey God.” Most translations, however, are similar to Revised Standard Version and take the “cruel messenger” in the second line as someone sent against the rebel by the king or other authority. In some languages “rebellion” is “fight against the rulers” or “throw down the chief.”

“And a cruel messenger will be sent against him”: “A cruel messenger”, as pointed out above, may refer to someone sent against the rebel to punish him. However, it may also refer to a destructive tempest or storm. Note that Good News Translation makes it refer to death. Contemporary English Version says “Cruel people want to rebel, and so vicious attackers will be sent against them.” One translation that follows a similar approach has “A person whose behavior is bad has a big head and wants to start a fight. But they will send a very cruel person to go and really punish him.” If we take “rebellion” in the sense of plotting to overthrow the rulers, we may also say, for example, “Evil people look for ways to kill their leaders, but merciless soldiers will be sent to punish them.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 17:11

17:11

There are no parallel pairs in this verse. The second line gives the result of the first line.

11a An evil man seeks only rebellion;

11b a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

When an evil man rebels, a messenger will be sent to punish him severely.

17:11a

An evil man seeks only rebellion: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “An evil ⌊person⌋ seeks only rebellion.” It means that an evil person focuses his plans on defying or revolting against someone who has authority over him. He also makes every effort to encourage others to rebel along with him. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

The wicked person thinks of nothing but rebellion (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Evil people are eager for rebellion (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Wicked people always try to oppose those who have authority.

rebellion: The Hebrew text does not specify who the evil person rebels against. It could be either the LORD or a government leader, such as the king. Most English versions are ambiguous. It is recommended that you translate in a way that will allow either meaning to be understood.

17:11b

Verse 17:11b gives the negative result of 17:11a. In Hebrew and in the Berean Standard Bible, this connection is left implied. Some English versions make the connection explicit. For example:

so (Revised English Bible)
-or-
but (New Revised Standard Version)

Introduce this result in a way that is natural in your language.

a cruel messenger will be sent against him: In the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a cruel messenger and in this context, the word cruel may describe the punishment that the messenger announces or carries out. This punishment will be severe or harsh (see the New Living Translation (2004), quoted below).

The word may also describe the way in which the messenger will announce or carry out the punishment. He will do it ruthlessly. He will obey his orders without showing mercy or pity (see the Revised English Bible, quoted below).

The word messenger has several meanings in the OT:

(a) Sometimes it refers to a prophet or an angel sent by the LORD.

(b) Sometimes it refers to a diplomat or official sent by a king.

(c) Sometimes it refers to an ordinary person sent by his master to deliver a message.

No English versions specify that the messenger is sent by the LORD. Most versions do not specify who will send the messenger. For example:

a messenger without mercy will be sent against him (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you translate in a way that can refer to either the LORD or a human leader. This kind of ambiguity better fits the ambiguous nature of the rebellion in 17:11a. It also allows the proverb to apply to a wider variety of situations.

If a person rebels against the LORD, then the LORD will send someone or something to punish him. For example, he will send a fatal illness or a natural disaster. If a person rebels against the government, then the government leader will send a messenger or official. This official will arrest him or carry out the punishment.

Some ways to keep this ambiguity are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent to punish him. (God’s Word)

• Use a passive verb and make the messenger implicit. For example:

but they will be severely punished (New Living Translation (2004))

• Use a general phrase to refer to the one who sends the messenger. For example:

⌊The one in authority⌋ will send a messenger to punish him severely.

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