As I begin preparation for teaching an adult Bible Class in June on the Proverbs, I am forced to go back and look at the basics. To begin with, the first question that comes to mind is, “What is a proverb?”
The Hebrew word that is translated “proverb’ is mashal. The text of Proverbs literally begins with “The Proverbs of…” So at the outset, as we approach this biblical book, we see that it is a collection of proverbs. But, what is a proverb?
In a broad sense mashal can refer to a “saying” of any variety of categories. Sometimes someone or something becomes a slogan for a warning. At other times it can be a blessing pronounced or a mocking song, with the object being a person or nation, and the purpose being to teach what one is not to do. It can also mean riddle, a maxim, a teaching parable.
In other places in the Old Testament a mashal can also be a lengthy discourse. Lessons about life, character and justice are included. Especially in Proverbs these are composed as instruction units, often where the author addresses “my son.” This raises the question as to what proverbs about life would we want to write down and pass on to our children?
Another perspective on what a mashal is might be helpful here. Think in terms of generally recognized truths about life that have been handed down. These are no less authoritative in our lives than, say for example, the commands of Jesus we deem applicable to ourselves. However, it would be safe to say, that we have not accorded the Proverbs nor proverbial sayings the status that we have other sections of Scripture in our lives. Think how often the Psalms are used for worship and devotional literature and practice. Compare this to the proverbs.
We all have plenty of operative proverbs in our lives that seem to daily guide us, but we have not usually named them and brought them the surface of our awareness. For example, “time spent sharpening a tool is not wasted.” We apply this to all sorts of situations, and truth of it has been tested time and again in our lives. We apply it to education, Sabbath-rest, research, training, etc.
This body of literature, the wisdom genre, helps us develop and recognize the truths about life. Sometimes, we do not have to learn lessons the hard way. If we honor the wise sayings that have been handed down, and recognize the wisdom and spiritual discernment contained in them, it will both equip and protect us. We do not have to repeat the mistakes of others. I would suspect that many of the wise sayings of the Proverbs were recognized after much blood, sweat and tears. May we appropriate this rich heritage to our faith!
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RESOURCES
Brown, Francis; Driver, S. R.; Briggs, Charles A. 1981. The New Brown, Driver, and Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Lafayette, IN: Associated Publishers and Authors, Inc.
Brueggemann, Walter. 1972. In Man We Trust: The Neglected Side of Biblical Faith. Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press.
Farmer, Kathleen A. 1996. Who Knows What is Good? A Commentary on the books of Proverbs & Ecclesiastes. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Holladay, William L., editor. 1980. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Murphy, Roland E. 1992. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature. New York, NY: Doubleday Dell Publishing Group.
The Hebrew word that is translated “proverb’ is mashal. The text of Proverbs literally begins with “The Proverbs of…” So at the outset, as we approach this biblical book, we see that it is a collection of proverbs. But, what is a proverb?
In a broad sense mashal can refer to a “saying” of any variety of categories. Sometimes someone or something becomes a slogan for a warning. At other times it can be a blessing pronounced or a mocking song, with the object being a person or nation, and the purpose being to teach what one is not to do. It can also mean riddle, a maxim, a teaching parable.
In other places in the Old Testament a mashal can also be a lengthy discourse. Lessons about life, character and justice are included. Especially in Proverbs these are composed as instruction units, often where the author addresses “my son.” This raises the question as to what proverbs about life would we want to write down and pass on to our children?
Another perspective on what a mashal is might be helpful here. Think in terms of generally recognized truths about life that have been handed down. These are no less authoritative in our lives than, say for example, the commands of Jesus we deem applicable to ourselves. However, it would be safe to say, that we have not accorded the Proverbs nor proverbial sayings the status that we have other sections of Scripture in our lives. Think how often the Psalms are used for worship and devotional literature and practice. Compare this to the proverbs.
We all have plenty of operative proverbs in our lives that seem to daily guide us, but we have not usually named them and brought them the surface of our awareness. For example, “time spent sharpening a tool is not wasted.” We apply this to all sorts of situations, and truth of it has been tested time and again in our lives. We apply it to education, Sabbath-rest, research, training, etc.
This body of literature, the wisdom genre, helps us develop and recognize the truths about life. Sometimes, we do not have to learn lessons the hard way. If we honor the wise sayings that have been handed down, and recognize the wisdom and spiritual discernment contained in them, it will both equip and protect us. We do not have to repeat the mistakes of others. I would suspect that many of the wise sayings of the Proverbs were recognized after much blood, sweat and tears. May we appropriate this rich heritage to our faith!
_____________________________
RESOURCES
Brown, Francis; Driver, S. R.; Briggs, Charles A. 1981. The New Brown, Driver, and Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Lafayette, IN: Associated Publishers and Authors, Inc.
Brueggemann, Walter. 1972. In Man We Trust: The Neglected Side of Biblical Faith. Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press.
Farmer, Kathleen A. 1996. Who Knows What is Good? A Commentary on the books of Proverbs & Ecclesiastes. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Holladay, William L., editor. 1980. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Murphy, Roland E. 1992. The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature. New York, NY: Doubleday Dell Publishing Group.
