neighbor

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “neighbor” in English is rendered into Babatana as “different man,” i.e. someone who is not one of your relatives. (Source: David Clark)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun, it is rendered as “a person outside of your building,” in Tzeltal as “your back and side” (implying position of the dwellings), in Indonesian and in Tae’ as “your fellow-man,” in Toraja-Sa’dan it is “your fellow earth-dweller,” in Shona (translation of 1966) as “another person like you,” in Kekchí “younger-brother-older-brother” (a compound which means all one’s neighbors in a community) (sources: Bratcher / Nida and Reiling / Swellengrebel), in Mairasi “your people” (source: Enggavoter 2004), in Mezquital Otomi as “fellow being,” in Tzeltal as “companion,” in Isthmus Zapotec as “another,” in Teutila Cuicatec as “all people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), and in most modern German translations as Mitmensch or “fellow human being” (lit. “with + human being”).

In Matt 19:19, Matt 22:39, Mark 12:31, Mark 12:33, Luke 10:27, Luke 10:29 it is translated into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that refers to a person who is socially/physically near. Ixcatlán Mazatec also has a another term for “neighbor” that means “fellow humans-outsiders” which was not chosen for these passages. (Source: Robert Bascom)

In Noongar it is translated as moorta-boordak or “people nearby” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

neighbor - relative

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “neighbor” or “relative” in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) and the Buku Lopatulika translation (1922/2018) with just one word: nansi. This word can also be translated as neighbors whom you share a blood relation with because in Chewa context a community is mostly comprised of people of blood relations. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 6:1

The Hebrew text, as seen in the Revised Standard Version, has in verses 1-2 two long “if” clauses, which are followed in verse 3 by a command. This may require some restructuring to make the sense clear. One way is to shift the “if” clauses to negative commands, and then continue to verse 3 by saying, for example, “But if you have been caught. . ..”

“My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor”: For “My son” see 1.8. The situation given here is imagined, and translations should reflect that fact. For example, Contemporary English Version says “My child, suppose you. . ..” “Become surety” means to accept the responsibility to pay the moneylender if the borrower of the money fails to pay. The Hebrew word means to give a pledge and was used in ancient Israel as a promise to do something. An example is that in Gen 43.9, where Judah pledges to Jacob that he will be surety for Benjamin’s safe return. The meaning of “become surety” may have to be spelled out fully in some languages; for example, “If another man has borrowed money, and you have promised to pay this money back if he is not able to. . ..”

“Neighbor” translates the noun form of a verb that means to associate with. “Neighbor” is not necessarily to be thought of as someone who lives nearby. The word is more equivalent to “companion,” “friend,” “colleague,” or more generally “another person.” Refer to 3.28.

“Have given your pledge for a stranger”: In Revised Standard Version this clause is not marked as conditional, but the parallel structure makes it so; New Revised Standard Version begins “if you have. . ..” This line is literally “If you have struck your palms [hand] with a foreigner.” This gesture refers to concluding an agreement and is similar to shaking hands to signal that two parties have agreed to do something. For an example of such an agreement see the case of Jehu and Jehonadab in 2 Kgs 10.15. Some take the word “stranger” to refer to an alien or non-Israelite and conclude, therefore, that it is a case of making a pledge to a total stranger and so is a very careless and unwise thing to do. Refer to 5.10. Toy and other interpreters see the words rendered by Revised Standard Version as “neighbor” and “stranger” not as contrasts but as matching in meaning. It is for this reason that Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version reduce the two words to “someone.” New Revised Standard Version has revised Revised Standard Version “stranger” to “another” in its text and has placed “stranger” in a footnote. Revised English Bible has revised New English Bible in the same way. The warning is, accordingly, not to become surety for anyone.

In some translations this verse is marked as a warning by concluding with words like “[If. . .,] what you have done is not good.”

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 6:1

Section 6:1–19

Here are several practical admonitions and warnings

This section contains practical warnings about four specific and unrelated areas of behavior. The first warning is about the danger of cosigning a loan for another person (6:1–5). The second paragraph speaks highly of the diligence of the ant and warns against laziness (6:6–11). The third paragraph briefly describes the behavior of a worthless scoundrel (6:12–15). The last paragraph is in the form of a numerical proverb and lists seven sins that the LORD hates (6:16–19).

Some other headings for this section are:

More Warnings (Good News Translation)
-or-
Dangers of Being Foolish (New Century Version)
-or-
Warnings Against Folly (New International Version)

Paragraph 6:1–5

In the first two verses of this paragraph, the father describes a possible circumstance or situation that his son may face. The last three verses advise the son what he should do if he is in that situation.

6:1

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. Both lines refer to the same event, and the “neighbor” in 6:1a is the same person whom the Berean Standard Bible refers to as a “stranger” in 6:1b.

1a My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,

1b
if you have struck hands in pledge
with a stranger,

6:1a–b

if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger: These two clauses refer to a situation that the son may face. This is a situation where the son has promised to pay the money lender if the neighbor who borrowed the money is unable to pay. An agreement of this nature was concluded or sealed by striking or clapping the palm of the other person.

Similar verses about guaranteeing to pay someone else’s debt occur in 11:15, 17:18, 20:16, and 22:26. See the notes on 17:18 for a description of specific differences between these verses. See the notes on 20:16 for further definitions of the three people (borrower, guarantor, and money lender) involved in this kind of situation.

The Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions use “if” clauses in 6:1–2 to describe this situation. Other ways to describe it are to use a question or a different kind of clause. For example:

Have you put up security for your neighbor?
-or-
Suppose you have put up security for your neighbor.
-or-
Be careful about putting up security for your neighbor.

Describe this situation in a natural way in your language. See the General Comment on 6:1–2 at the end of 6:2a–b for other ways to translate these verses.

6:1a

My son: (see 1:8a in the Notes).

for your neighbor: In Hebrew, the word neighbor can refer to anyone with whom one interacts. It can include a close friend, an acquaintance, or simply another person. It does not refer only to a person who lives nearby. See how you translated the same word in 3:28a–b.

6:1b

you have struck hands in pledge: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “you have clapped/struck your palms.” The function of this gesture was to conclude a legal or financial agreement. Some ways to translate this gesture are:

Use a gesture or action that has the same function in your culture. For example:

you have finalized your promise by shaking hands
-or-
you have cosigned another person’s loan

Translate the meaning without referring to a particular gesture or action. For two examples, see the Contemporary English Version and Good News Translation. They are quoted in the General Comment on 6:1a–b below.

with a stranger: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stranger is literally “foreigner” or “stranger.” The Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, and New Jerusalem Bible translate it as stranger, but in this context, it probably refers to anyone outside of the family. For example:

someone else (New Century Version)

General Comment on 6:1a–b

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

My child, suppose you agree to pay the debt of someone, who cannot repay a loan. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
My child, have you promised to be responsible for someone else’s debts? (Good News Translation)

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