Translation commentary on Proverbs 22:1

The theme of this saying is the value of a good reputation. The two lines are parallel and have essentially the same meaning.

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches”: The first word of the verse in Hebrew is the verb “is to be chosen”, a passive form of the verb “choose”; it serves as the verb for the second line as well as the first. Here it has the sense of what people choose because it is “more desirable” (New International Version), “preferable” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “worth much more” (Contemporary English Version). For “A good name” the Hebrew has simply “name”; a person’s name meant their reputation or standing in the community. It is clear from the matching element in the second line, and from the sense of the whole saying, that its meaning here is “a good reputation.” “Great riches” is the common way of expressing “a lot of money and possessions.”

“And favor is better than silver or gold”: “Favor” (“good favor” in Hebrew) is the term that matches “name” in the first line. In this context it means being well accepted, respected, or “esteemed” (New International Version) by other people. “Is better” is put in by Revised Standard Version and other translations to repeat the verb from the first line. “Silver” and “gold” have the same meaning as “great riches”.

Since the meaning of the two lines is very similar, some translations make them into a single sentence; Contemporary English Version, for example, says: “A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.” In one Pacific language this is expressed as “If people recognize you as a good person and they honor you, that is better than being rich.” See also Good News Translation.

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 22:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 22:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “It is better for a person to get a good name/reputation than riches.
    A good character/way of life beats/defeats riches/wealth.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “It is better to choose [a good] name
    than [to choose] wealth and prosperity.
    To live being respected is better
    than [to live] having silver and gold.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(It is) better to choose a good reputation than great/[lit. many wealth]. The respect of the people to you (sing.) is more precious than gold and silver.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A person’s honor/reputation is more-valuable than silver and gold.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Having a good reputation/Being honored by people is better than having a lot of money;
    being well respected is better than having plenty of gold or silver.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 22:1

22:1

The overall meaning of this proverb is that a good reputation is more valuable or important than great wealth. It does not imply that having wealth is bad or undesirable. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

1a
A good name is more desirable than great riches ;

1b
favor is better than silver and gold.

In Hebrew, there is an ellipsis in 22:1b. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the phrase “is better” for the sake of more natural English.

In Hebrew, the parallel parts in 22:1b form a chiasm. They occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 22:1a. The Hebrew order is literally:

than silver and than gold good favor

You will need to decide if a chiasm is natural in your language.

22:1a

A good name is more desirable than great riches: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “A name ⌊is to be⌋ chosen more than great wealth.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word good from the parallel Hebrew phrase “good favor” in 22:1b. In this context, it means that a good reputation is more valuable or important for a person to have than much wealth. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Being respected is more important than having great riches. (New Century Version)
-or-
Repute is preferable to great wealth (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

22:1b

favor is better than silver and gold: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as favor is literally “good favor.” It refers to the approval and respect that a person receives from other people. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

To be well thought of is better than silver or gold. (New Century Version)
-or-
Respect is better than silver or gold. (God’s Word)

General Comment on 22:1a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder and/or combine the parallel parts in these two lines. For example:

If you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth, choose a good reputation. (Good News Translation)
-or-
A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold. (Contemporary English Version)

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