more precious than jewels

The Hebrew in Proverbs 3:15 that is translated as “more precious than jewels” or similar in English is translated in Kupsabiny as “of value/benefit more than stones that buy much money.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)

wisdom ("heart wisdom")

In the Tzeltal translation for the dialectal variant of Highland Tzeltal (Biblia Tzeltal yu’un Oxchuc soc Tenejapa, 2001) the translation team used three different words to translate the Hebrew term that is translated as “wisdom” or “wise” in English. For the verses referenced here, it uses p’ijil-o’tanil or “heart wisdom.”

For the complete story and more background, please see wisdom (Proverbs).

complete verse (Proverbs 3:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 3:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “This wisdom is of value/benefit more than stones that buy much money (are expensive), and there is nothing that can be compared with wisdom.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Wisdom is more precious
    than diamonds or pearls,
    There is nothing you can compare with it.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and more precious than jewels. And there is nothing ever you (sing.) desire which can-equal/level to-it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “It is more-valuable than even any expensive decoration of the body (e.g. jewelry) and nothing can-equal (it) among even anything that you love/strongly-desire.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 3:15

“She is more precious than jewels”: “She” refers to wisdom and the clause must often be rendered as “Wisdom is more valuable than. . ..” In some languages the noun “wisdom” must be repeated in almost every statement from this verse down to verse 18. “Precious” in reference to jewels has the sense of commanding a higher price, of having greater value. The meaning of the word rendered “jewels” is uncertain. The ancient versions use a variety of translations. In Lam 4.7 the word is used to indicate ruddiness of complexion, and so it is rendered “coral” by some interpreters. Some prefer “pearls,” but in light of the uncertainty it is probably best to use a general term such as “jewels” or “precious stones.”

“Nothing you desire can compare with her”: This kind of statement must often be restructured in other languages, for example, “You desire many things but none of these things is as good as she is” or “Of all the things you want, she surpasses them all.” Here again it may be necessary in some languages to replace the pronouns with the word for wisdom.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 3:15

3:15

The parallel parts in 3:15a form a chiasm. They occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 3:15b.

15a
She is more precious than rubies ;

15b
nothing you desire compares with her,

The first line is parallel in meaning to the two lines of 3:14. The second line summarizes and expands the thought of all three lines.

3:15a

She is more precious: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as precious means “valuable” (Good News Translation).

rubies: The meaning of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rubies is uncertain. Several scholars say that it probably refers to “red corals” (Revised English Bible). Because of the uncertain meaning, several English versions use the word “jewels,” a more general term. If you use a specific term such as “rubies” or “red corals,” be sure that these items are considered to be extremely valuable.

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