abomination

The Hebrew that is translated as “abomination” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “hated thing” and in Kwere as zitibusa which means “evil” but also something that causes horror or disgust and revolts people. (Source for both: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

in Ngambay it is nékɔb or “taboo.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also detestable in the sight of God and holy.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 21:27

The theme of this saying is the inconsistency or hypocrisy of wicked people who come to make sacrifices to God. The form of the saying is “A is bad . . . but B is worse.”

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination”: This line is almost the same as the first line of 15.8. See the comments there. “The sacrifice of the wicked” means the sacrifice that a wicked person tries to offer; so Revised English Bible has “sacrifice from a wicked person,” and Good News Translation “when wicked people offer him sacrifices.” Although “to the Lord” is not in the text following “an abomination” here, it must be understood. The sense is that “The Lord hates. . ..”

“How much more when he brings it with evil intent”: This line begins with a word that marks climax and emphasis, going further or to a higher level than what is said in the first line. “How much more when” expresses the sense well in English; other ways of beginning this line are “the more so when. . .” (Revised English Bible), “above all if. . .” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “it is even worse when. . ..” “With evil intent” translates a Hebrew word that means “plan” or “purpose,” almost always in a bad sense. In 10.23 Revised Standard Version renders this same word as “[do] wrong.” New Jerusalem Bible renders it “bad motives,” Good News Translation “evil motives,” and Revised English Bible “impure motives.” Toy suggests that the “bad motives” are that the sacrifice will enable the wicked person to escape from the consequences of his evil deeds.

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 21:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 21:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “If/When God hates what a sinner gives to him (as a gift/blessing),
    what about when a black-stomached/envious person gives (something).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The Lord hates the sacrifices
    offered by wicked people.
    Even more,
    He hates offerings done with bad intentions.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The LORD detests the offerings of the wicked, especially if they offer it with bad/evil motive.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “God hates the offering/sacrifice of a sinner, even-more-so if his motives are bad.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Yahweh detests the sacrifices that wicked people offer to him;
    but he detests it even more when they think that they will escape being punished for their evil deeds because of the sacrifices that they bring.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 21:27

21:27

In this proverb, the second line intensifies the meaning of the first line.

27a The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—

27b how much more so when brought with ill intent!

The overall meaning is that the LORD detests the sacrifices that wicked people offer to him. He especially hates it when they offer their sacrifices with evil plans in mind.

This is the last example in Proverbs of lesser to greater reasoning. For other examples, see 11:31.

21:27a

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable: In Hebrew, this clause is identical to 15:8a, except that 15:8a specifies that the sacrifice is detestable to the LORD. The same meaning is implied here. For example:

The Lord hates it when wicked people offer him sacrifices (Good News Translation)

21:27b

how much more so when brought with ill intent: It is especially disgusting to the LORD when wicked people have wrong motives or evil plans in offering their sacrifices.

ill intent: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as ill intent “usually refers to evil plans or schemes.” Here it may indicate that the wicked person plans to accomplish something harmful by hypocritically offering the sacrifice. It may also mean that he offers the sacrifice with wrong motives, perhaps to impress others. The verse does not specify what his evil plans or motives are.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

particularly when they offer them for the wrong reasons (New Century Version)
-or-
especially if they do it from evil motives (Good News Translation)

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