Translation commentary on Proverbs 4:8

“Prize her highly and she will exalt you”: “Prize” translates a verb that can mean to lift up, esteem, or value. However, the Hebrew is not entirely clear. Some translations say “love her” or “love wisdom.” “Exalt” here means to honor, which in some languages is expressed as “she will say you are great” or “wisdom will say you are great.” See Good News Translation.

“She will honor you if you embrace her”: You may find that it is more natural in your language if the “if” clause is shifted to the beginning of this line; for example, “If you embrace her [wisdom], she [wisdom] will bring you honor.” For “honor” see 3.9.

It seems that in verses 8-9 the intended image is that of a bride. Bible en français courant says in this verse “Clasp wisdom like a beloved woman. If you embrace her, she will make you noble and great.”

Contemporary English Version has “If you value Wisdom and hold tightly to her, great honors will be yours.”

The terms used for “clasp” or “embrace” should be appropriate for the translator’s culture.

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 4:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 4:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “If you accept wisdom to lift/raise you up, or when you have welcomed/embraced (it), it will bring you honor.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If you value wisdom, it will make you great,
    Embrace it and it will give you honor.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Love/Value-most and accept wisdom, for this can-give you (sing.) honor.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Big honor is what you (sing.) will gain if you (sing.) receive and value wisdom.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 4:8

4:8

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

8a
Prize her, and she will exalt you ;

8b if you embrace her, she will honor you.

Here wisdom is spoken of as if it were a woman that a person should esteem and embrace.

4:8a–b

Prize her…embrace her: The word Prize probably means:

value (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
esteem (New International Version)
-or-
cherish

The parallel word, embrace, often refers to putting one’s arms around someone as a gesture of affection. It is used of friends and relatives, and also of lovers. Another way to translate the meaning in this context is:

hold tightly to her (Contemporary English Version)

she will exalt…honor: To exalt a person means to raise him in status. Personified wisdom exalts/honors someone in the following way: If a person receives and values wisdom, wisdom will help him to develop a good character. Because of this good character, other people will honor him.

General Comment on 4:8a–b

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

If you value Wisdom and hold tightly to her, great honors will be yours. (Contemporary English Version)

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