Translation commentary on Proverbs 17:6

This saying about the value of the family refers to a family of three generations.

“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged” is literally “the crown of old men [is] sons of sons.” In Hebrew this expression has a masculine form, but it may be made inclusive in translation, as in Revised Standard Version. In languages in which “Grandchildren” is either masculine or feminine but does not include both, it may be possible to use both terms. “Crown” translates the same word as used in 4.9. The sense here is “reward,” “honor,” or “pride.” “The aged” translates a masculine plural form meaning “old men” or “elders” but need not exclude females. We may translate this line as in Revised Standard Version, but some adjustment is often required to express the idea of “A is the crown of B.” Accordingly, Good News Translation has “Grandparents are proud of their grandchildren.” This form lends itself to a parallel construction in the second line. Some translations use a simile; for example, “Grandchildren are like a crown for their grandfathers.” We may also translate, for example, “Grandchildren bring honor to their grandparents.”

“And the glory of sons is their fathers”: This line speaks of sons who honor their fathers. “Glory”, which is parallel with “crown” in the first line, has about the same meaning as “crown”. Therefore, just as grandparents are proud of their grandchildren, in this line children are or should be proud of their parents.

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 17:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 17:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “An old person is proud of his grandchildren,
    and children are happy for/rejoice over their parents.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Grandchildren are the prestige of the aged.
    and parents are the prestige of the children.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Pride of the grandparents/[lit. old-ones] are their grandchildren, as also pride of the children are their parents.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The old-men speak-highly-of/boast-about their grandchildren and the children, they also speak-highly-of/boast-about their parents (lit. their child owner).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Old people are usually proud of their grandchildren,
    just like children are usually proud of their parents.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 17:6

17:6

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. Together, the two lines describe the mutual pride and respect that younger and older generations of a family feel for one another.

6a Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,

6b and the glory of a son is his father

17:6a–b

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father: The words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crown and glory both refer here to the same thing. They refer to the “honor,” “respect,” or “pride” that grandchildren feel for older people and that parents feel for their children.

There are different ways to express the relationship in either line. For example, some ways to translate 17:6a are:

Old people are proud of their grandchildren (New Century Version)
-or-
Grandchildren are a source of pride for their grandparents

Some ways to translate 17:6b are:

and children are proud of their parents (New Century Version)
-or-
and parents are a source of pride for their children

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