King James Version

Proverbs 1:6

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

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Hebrew

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לְהָבִ֣יןlehavinto understandבִּיןpreposition, verb, hiphil, infinitive construct — “to understand”, the to-form of the verbH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…מָ֭שָׁלmashalbywordמָשָׁלnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “byword”, the ordinary formH4912properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse)byword, like, parable, proverb.וּמְלִיצָ֑הumelitsahand interpretationמְלִיצָהconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “and interpretation”, the ordinary formH4426an aphorism; also a satireinterpretation, taunting.דִּבְרֵ֥יdivrecauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “cause”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…חֲ֝כָמִ֗יםchakhamimwise , manחָכָםadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “wise , man”, the ordinary formH2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).וְחִידֹתָֽםvechidotamand dark sayingחִידָהconjunction, noun, common, feminine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “and dark saying”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2420a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maximdark saying (sentence, speech), hard question, proverb, riddle.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Young’s Literal Translation

For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.

World English Bible

to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

Darby Translation

to understand a proverb and an allegory, the words of the wise and their enigmas.

Douay-Rheims

He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

and will understand a parable, and a dark speech; the sayings of the wise also, and riddles.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Νοήσει τε παραβολὴν καὶ σκοτεινὸν λόγον, ῥήσεις τε σοφῶν καὶ αἰνίγματα.