Translation commentary on Proverbs 26:18-19

Verses 18-19 are a four-line saying in the form of a simile. Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew order of the lines.

“Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death”: “A madman” is a crazy person, someone who lacks control over his acts. “Firebrands” is literally “flaming or burning arrows.” “Firebrands, arrows, and death” may be expressed as “deadly burning arrows” or “fiery arrows that kill people.” For people who do not understand “flaming arrows,” it may be possible to say “throws fire sticks” or “shoots deadly arrows.”

“Is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!””: “The man who deceives his neighbor” is a person who makes someone else believe something that is not true. The deceiver or joker cannot foresee the damage he is causing and so is like the crazy person shooting burning arrows in line 1. Contemporary English Version translates verses 18-19 “It is no crazier to shoot sharp and flaming arrows than to cheat someone and say, ‘I was only fooling!'”

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 26:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 26:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who deceives another person and then says he was joking,
    is like a crazy person who plays with sharp weapons.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “People who deceive others and say
    "I was only joking"
    are like madmen holding torches
    and dreadful bows and arrows.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who cheats his fellowman, and then he says that was just a joke, he is like a mad/[lit. bad head] man who shoots a blazing bow-and-arrow that can-kill.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Like a crazy-person who arrow-shoots sharp and burning arrows (not redundant)” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Crazy people who shoot burning arrows to kill people” (Source: Translation for Translators)