Translation commentary on Proverbs 19:6

Verses 6-7 are contrasting sayings about the rich and poor.

“Many seek the favor of a generous man” is literally “Many beg the face of a noble.” “Beg the face” may be taken as in Revised Standard Version or as “praise” or “flatter.” “A generous man” translates a Hebrew word translated by Revised Standard Version in 17.7 as “prince” and in 17.26 as “noble man.” The reference here may be to a person or persons of high social rank. See Good News Translation “important people.” However, the Revised Standard Version translation makes a good parallel with “a man who gives gifts” in the second line.

“And everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts”: This line echoes the first. “A friend” is the same as used in verse 4. “Is a friend” is again a way of saying “wants to be the friend of,” “tries to become the friend of,” or “wants to associate with.” “A man who gives gifts” (New Revised Standard Version “a giver of gifts”) is parallel to “a generous man” in the previous line, and its sense is well expressed in this context by Good News Translation “those who give out favors.” Contemporary English Version says “everyone tries to be friends with those who can help 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 .

complete verse (Proverbs 19:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 19:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “Many people praise a rich man so that that rich man may love/accept them,
    and every person tries to be a friend/assistant to a person who has/owns things.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Most everyone will try to win
    the hearts of great people,
    everyone tries to make friends
    of those who are able to give.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Many make-friends with the well-known people so-that they will-be-treated-well, and everyone make-friends with the generous-(ones).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Many are those who look-for their betterment in the viewpoint of one whose status is high, and the one who has something to give is a friend of all people.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Many people try to persuade important people to do favors for them;
    everyone wants to be a friend of those who give gifts.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 19:6

19:6–7

These two verses contrast with one another. Verse 19:6 talks about the many people who want to be friends of a generous leader. Verse 19:7 discusses the situation of a poor person whose friends and relatives abandon him.

19:6

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

6a
Many seek the favor of the prince,

6b and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

The use of “Many” in 19:6a and “everyone” in 19:6b indicates that both statements are true in general. The parallelism implies that the “prince” that is mentioned here is a generous person who gives gifts. It is also implied that “the gift giver” has enough wealth and status to give gifts to many people.

19:6a

Many seek the favor of the prince: There are two ways to interpret the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the prince :

(1) It refers to a person who has high rank or status, such as a government official. For example:

Many curry favor with the great (Revised English Bible)
-or-
people want to please a leader (New Century Version)

(2) It refers to a person who is generous. For example:

Many seek the favor of a generous man (English Standard Version)
-or-
Many try to win the kindness of a generous person (God’s Word)

The Display follows interpretation (1), along with most versions. You may follow either interpretation, depending on what makes sense in your culture. Both interpretations are well supported. Rulers are usually wealthy and have the authority to grant favors. On the other hand, “a generous man” forms a closer parallel with “a man who gives gifts.”

seek the favor: The Hebrew idiom that the Berean Standard Bible translates as seek the favor is literally “stroke the face.” It means to try to gain someone’s favor. It may imply flattery.

19:6b

and everyone is a friend of the gift giver: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the gift giver is literally “a man of gifts.” It refers to a person who frequently or characteristically gives gifts to others. Such a person is, of course, generous. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a giver of gifts (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
a lavish giver (Revised English Bible)

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