Proverbs 25
The whole Book of Proverbs in the Leningrad Codex (1008 C.E.) from an old fascimile edition.
BookBook of Proverbs
CategoryKetuvim
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part21

Proverbs 25 is the 25th chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.[1][2] The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in Proverbs 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period.[3] This chapter is the last part of the fifth collection of the book,[4] so-called "the Second Solomonic Collection."[5]

Text

The original text is written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 28 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).[6]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century).[7]

Analysis

This chapter belongs to a further collection of Solomonic proverbs, transmitted and edited by royal scribes during the reign of Hezekiah, comprising Proverbs 25–29.[8] This collection is introduced within the text as "[the] proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied".[9] Hezekiah was the 13th king of Judah from 726 BCE to 697 BCE,[10] who is favorably spoken of in 2 Kings 18:3.

Based on differences in style and subject-matter there could be two originally separate collections:[8]

  1. Proverbs 25–27: characterized by many similes and the 'earthy' tone
  2. Proverbs 28–29: characterized by many antithetical sayings and the predominantly 'moral and religious' tone (cf. Proverbs 10–15)

Aberdeen theologian Kenneth Aitken argues that chapters 25–27 and 28–29 were originally separate collections,[8] while Methodist minister Arno Gaebelein argues that chapters 27–29 as a unit constitute "instructions given to Solomon".[11]

Verses 2 to 7 consist of a series of sayings regarding the king, followed by advice in verses 6 and 7 directed to royal officials.[8]

Verse 1

These are also proverbs of Solomon,
which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.[12]

The proverbs in this collection differ from the earlier ones in that these are 'multiple line sayings using more similes'.[13]

Verses 6–7

6Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
and do not stand in the place of great men;
7for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,"
than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
whom your eyes have seen.[14]

David Brown notes that Jesus' parable in Luke 14:7–11 includes "a reproduction" of verses 6 and 7.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Halley 1965, p. 270.
  2. ↑ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
  3. ↑ Aitken 2007, p. 406.
  4. ↑ Perdue, L. G. (2012), Proverbs, pp. x–xi
  5. ↑ Aitken 2007, pp. 406, 419.
  6. ↑ Würthwein 1995, pp. 36–37.
  7. ↑ Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Aitken 2007, p. 419.
  9. ↑ Proverbs 25:1: NKJV
  10. ↑ Jewish Encyclopedia, HEZEKIAH (Hebrew: "my strength is Jah"; Assyrian, "Ḥazaḳiau"), accessed 7 May 2021
  11. ↑ Gaebelein, A. (1919), Gaebelein's Annotated Bible: Proverbs 27, accessed 5 May 2021
  12. ↑ Proverbs 25:1 MEV
  13. ↑ Note on Proverbs 25:1 in NET Bible
  14. ↑ Proverbs 25:6–7 MEV
  15. ↑ Brown, D., Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: Luke 14, accessed 3 May 2021

Sources

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