Translation commentary on Proverbs 6:27

“Can a man carry fire in his bosom”: “Fire” may be an image of sexual passion; or it may be meant to picture the consequences of the man’s actions. If your translation has addressed the learner with “you” singular, that form can be continued here. “Bosom” (see 5.20) can refer to the breast, or to the middle part of the outer garment, which was pulled up to make a carrying pocket. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “Can a person carry fire in the pockets of his clothes. . .?” In some languages the style of clothing worn or lack of clothing make this difficult to express. However, we may say, for example, “If you carry fire in your clothes. . .” or “If you carry fire next to your body. . ..”

“And his clothes not be burned?”: that is, “and not burn your clothes?” or “and not burn you?” In some languages this rhetorical question is better expressed as a negative statement: “You can’t carry fire . . . without being burned.” Some languages require the question to be answered in the negative. New Jerusalem Bible says “Can a man carry fire inside his shirt without setting his clothes alight?” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “He who puts fire on his chest will certainly burn his clothes.”

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 6:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 6:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “Is there really any person who pours fire on himself and his clothes do not burn?” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Is anyone able to scoop out fire
    into his lap without being scorched?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If you (sing.) let- the fire -come-near to your (sing.) breast your (sing.) clothe will-be-burned.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Is-it-possible do-you-suppose that you (sing.)-will-pocket fire and your (sing.) clothes will not be-burned?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 6:27

6:27–28

These two verses are parallel rhetorical questions.

27a
Can a man embrace fire 27b and his clothes not be burned?

28a
Can a man walk on hot coals 28b without scorching his feet?

The purpose of both rhetorical questions is to give emphasis. The implied answer to both questions is, “Of course not!” Both rhetorical questions are also parallel metaphors. These metaphors compare a man who has sex with another man’s wife (6:29) to a man who comes in contact with fire/coals. The ways these men are similar are the disastrous and inevitable consequences that each man faces from his action.

6:27

Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that a person cannot scoop burning coals into his lap without burning his clothes. Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

• Use a question, but make explicit the implied answer: “Of course not!”

• Use a statement. For example:

You cannot carry hot coals against your chest without burning your clothes (New Century Version)
-or-
If you carry burning coals, you burn your clothes (Contemporary English Version)

embrace fire: The phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as embrace fire generally means to take burning coals from a fire. The phrase can refer either to putting burning coals on a person’s lap or carrying those coals on the chest or in the clothes worn over the chest. The outer garment could also be pulled up to make a temporary pocket. So translations that speak of carrying fire/coals against the chest (Good News Translation, New Century Version) or in the lap (New International Version, New Living Translation (2004)) are equally accurate. It would also be accurate to say: “carry hot coals in your pocket.” Use whatever is natural in your language for picking up and carrying hot coals in a way that would burn your clothes.

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