Answer Not A Fool, or Answer A Fool?Comparison of English word “fool” in original Hebrew and Greek1 Pet 3:3 (NASB) “Your adornment must not be *merely* external”Were all the Canaanites slaughtered or not?Why do English translations sometimes, but not always, transform names instead of just transliterating them?Why did Tyndale (1525) not capitalize 'word' in John 1:1?Proverbs 16:1 - meaning of the answer of the tongueIn Exodus 20:26 what does it mean “and you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it”?Two N.T. verses in two different Greek Interlinears have differences that seem critically important so I ask for clarificationMatthew 5:16 vs 6:1 - show good deeds or not?
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Answer Not A Fool, or Answer A Fool?
Comparison of English word “fool” in original Hebrew and Greek1 Pet 3:3 (NASB) “Your adornment must not be *merely* external”Were all the Canaanites slaughtered or not?Why do English translations sometimes, but not always, transform names instead of just transliterating them?Why did Tyndale (1525) not capitalize 'word' in John 1:1?Proverbs 16:1 - meaning of the answer of the tongueIn Exodus 20:26 what does it mean “and you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it”?Two N.T. verses in two different Greek Interlinears have differences that seem critically important so I ask for clarificationMatthew 5:16 vs 6:1 - show good deeds or not?
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Proverbs 26:4 says, "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him."
The very next verse, verse 5, says, "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."
To answer or not to answer?
This seeming contradiction has me scratching my head. I wonder if this is a translation issue. I've looked it up in the YLT and a handful of other translations and they all say the same thing.
The Brenton Septuagint adds "Yet" to the beginning of verse 5, which might mean something, but I'm not sure what.
I'm very interested in seeing if someone has some insight into this quandary.
contradiction translation-philosophy proverbs
asked 10 hours ago
IconoclastIconoclast
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Proverbs 26:4 says, "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him."
The very next verse, verse 5, says, "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."
To answer or not to answer?
This seeming contradiction has me scratching my head. I wonder if this is a translation issue. I've looked it up in the YLT and a handful of other translations and they all say the same thing.
The Brenton Septuagint adds "Yet" to the beginning of verse 5, which might mean something, but I'm not sure what.
I'm very interested in seeing if someone has some insight into this quandary.
contradiction translation-philosophy proverbs
asked 10 hours ago
IconoclastIconoclast
215 bronze badges
New contributor
Iconoclast is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment
|
Proverbs 26:4 says, "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him."
The very next verse, verse 5, says, "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."
To answer or not to answer?
This seeming contradiction has me scratching my head. I wonder if this is a translation issue. I've looked it up in the YLT and a handful of other translations and they all say the same thing.
The Brenton Septuagint adds "Yet" to the beginning of verse 5, which might mean something, but I'm not sure what.
I'm very interested in seeing if someone has some insight into this quandary.
contradiction translation-philosophy proverbs
asked 10 hours ago
IconoclastIconoclast
215 bronze badges
New contributor
Iconoclast is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Proverbs 26:4 says, "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him."
The very next verse, verse 5, says, "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."
To answer or not to answer?
This seeming contradiction has me scratching my head. I wonder if this is a translation issue. I've looked it up in the YLT and a handful of other translations and they all say the same thing.
The Brenton Septuagint adds "Yet" to the beginning of verse 5, which might mean something, but I'm not sure what.
I'm very interested in seeing if someone has some insight into this quandary.
contradiction translation-philosophy proverbs
contradiction translation-philosophy proverbs
asked 10 hours ago
IconoclastIconoclast
215 bronze badges
New contributor
Iconoclast is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 10 hours ago
IconoclastIconoclast
215 bronze badges
New contributor
Iconoclast is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 10 hours ago
IconoclastIconoclast
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asked 10 hours ago
IconoclastIconoclast
215 bronze badges
asked 10 hours ago
IconoclastIconoclast
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215 bronze badges
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Iconoclast is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2 Answers
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The contradiction is intended, and rhetorical—and present in the Hebrew. However, there may be a slight play on the use of the preposition כ which means "according to, like" as in "according to his folly." If taken to mean "in the way he is foolish," it could refer to not being like him, "lest you become even as he is." But if taken in the "in his folly" sense, it could mean, "while he might be foolish [don't be foolish yourself]." Either way, the thrust is that answering him "according to his folly" is, by definition, foolishness, and makes you a fool; but that, on the other hand, answering him prevents him from thinking his foolishness valid, inasmuch as it goes not go unchallenged.
Rhetoric like this is helpful to show that there is both a downside and a benefit from the thing mentioned, and to prevent one being remembered without the other (running away with half the story), and it is implied that prudential judgement will judge which is more appropriate for the situation.
answered 9 hours ago
Sola GratiaSola Gratia
4,6895 silver badges21 bronze badges
I appreciate your reply. This makes sense. I'm sure it comes through much more clearly in the Hebrew than it does in English.
– Iconoclast
8 hours ago
add a comment
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"Too many cooks spoil the broth" or "It takes many hands to make light work [ make hard work easier ]" - which one is true? More people is good or bad?
Both are true, and the invitation into tension is also an invitation into wisdom and relationship. Rather than black and white answers, we're encourage to see that many issues have multiple perspectives and knowing what the right answer is can be contextual so that having insight from God helps us to apply the right answer.
answered 56 mins ago
NathanNathan
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The contradiction is intended, and rhetorical—and present in the Hebrew. However, there may be a slight play on the use of the preposition כ which means "according to, like" as in "according to his folly." If taken to mean "in the way he is foolish," it could refer to not being like him, "lest you become even as he is." But if taken in the "in his folly" sense, it could mean, "while he might be foolish [don't be foolish yourself]." Either way, the thrust is that answering him "according to his folly" is, by definition, foolishness, and makes you a fool; but that, on the other hand, answering him prevents him from thinking his foolishness valid, inasmuch as it goes not go unchallenged.
Rhetoric like this is helpful to show that there is both a downside and a benefit from the thing mentioned, and to prevent one being remembered without the other (running away with half the story), and it is implied that prudential judgement will judge which is more appropriate for the situation.
answered 9 hours ago
Sola GratiaSola Gratia
4,6895 silver badges21 bronze badges
I appreciate your reply. This makes sense. I'm sure it comes through much more clearly in the Hebrew than it does in English.
– Iconoclast
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
The contradiction is intended, and rhetorical—and present in the Hebrew. However, there may be a slight play on the use of the preposition כ which means "according to, like" as in "according to his folly." If taken to mean "in the way he is foolish," it could refer to not being like him, "lest you become even as he is." But if taken in the "in his folly" sense, it could mean, "while he might be foolish [don't be foolish yourself]." Either way, the thrust is that answering him "according to his folly" is, by definition, foolishness, and makes you a fool; but that, on the other hand, answering him prevents him from thinking his foolishness valid, inasmuch as it goes not go unchallenged.
Rhetoric like this is helpful to show that there is both a downside and a benefit from the thing mentioned, and to prevent one being remembered without the other (running away with half the story), and it is implied that prudential judgement will judge which is more appropriate for the situation.
answered 9 hours ago
Sola GratiaSola Gratia
4,6895 silver badges21 bronze badges
I appreciate your reply. This makes sense. I'm sure it comes through much more clearly in the Hebrew than it does in English.
– Iconoclast
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
The contradiction is intended, and rhetorical—and present in the Hebrew. However, there may be a slight play on the use of the preposition כ which means "according to, like" as in "according to his folly." If taken to mean "in the way he is foolish," it could refer to not being like him, "lest you become even as he is." But if taken in the "in his folly" sense, it could mean, "while he might be foolish [don't be foolish yourself]." Either way, the thrust is that answering him "according to his folly" is, by definition, foolishness, and makes you a fool; but that, on the other hand, answering him prevents him from thinking his foolishness valid, inasmuch as it goes not go unchallenged.
Rhetoric like this is helpful to show that there is both a downside and a benefit from the thing mentioned, and to prevent one being remembered without the other (running away with half the story), and it is implied that prudential judgement will judge which is more appropriate for the situation.
answered 9 hours ago
Sola GratiaSola Gratia
4,6895 silver badges21 bronze badges
The contradiction is intended, and rhetorical—and present in the Hebrew. However, there may be a slight play on the use of the preposition כ which means "according to, like" as in "according to his folly." If taken to mean "in the way he is foolish," it could refer to not being like him, "lest you become even as he is." But if taken in the "in his folly" sense, it could mean, "while he might be foolish [don't be foolish yourself]." Either way, the thrust is that answering him "according to his folly" is, by definition, foolishness, and makes you a fool; but that, on the other hand, answering him prevents him from thinking his foolishness valid, inasmuch as it goes not go unchallenged.
Rhetoric like this is helpful to show that there is both a downside and a benefit from the thing mentioned, and to prevent one being remembered without the other (running away with half the story), and it is implied that prudential judgement will judge which is more appropriate for the situation.
answered 9 hours ago
Sola GratiaSola Gratia
4,6895 silver badges21 bronze badges
answered 9 hours ago
Sola GratiaSola Gratia
4,6895 silver badges21 bronze badges
answered 9 hours ago
Sola GratiaSola Gratia
4,6895 silver badges21 bronze badges
answered 9 hours ago
Sola GratiaSola Gratia
4,6895 silver badges21 bronze badges
4,6895 silver badges21 bronze badges
I appreciate your reply. This makes sense. I'm sure it comes through much more clearly in the Hebrew than it does in English.
– Iconoclast
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
I appreciate your reply. This makes sense. I'm sure it comes through much more clearly in the Hebrew than it does in English.
– Iconoclast
8 hours ago
I appreciate your reply. This makes sense. I'm sure it comes through much more clearly in the Hebrew than it does in English.
– Iconoclast
8 hours ago
I appreciate your reply. This makes sense. I'm sure it comes through much more clearly in the Hebrew than it does in English.
– Iconoclast
8 hours ago
add a comment
|
"Too many cooks spoil the broth" or "It takes many hands to make light work [ make hard work easier ]" - which one is true? More people is good or bad?
Both are true, and the invitation into tension is also an invitation into wisdom and relationship. Rather than black and white answers, we're encourage to see that many issues have multiple perspectives and knowing what the right answer is can be contextual so that having insight from God helps us to apply the right answer.
answered 56 mins ago
NathanNathan
1
New contributor
Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment
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"Too many cooks spoil the broth" or "It takes many hands to make light work [ make hard work easier ]" - which one is true? More people is good or bad?
Both are true, and the invitation into tension is also an invitation into wisdom and relationship. Rather than black and white answers, we're encourage to see that many issues have multiple perspectives and knowing what the right answer is can be contextual so that having insight from God helps us to apply the right answer.
answered 56 mins ago
NathanNathan
1
New contributor
Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment
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"Too many cooks spoil the broth" or "It takes many hands to make light work [ make hard work easier ]" - which one is true? More people is good or bad?
Both are true, and the invitation into tension is also an invitation into wisdom and relationship. Rather than black and white answers, we're encourage to see that many issues have multiple perspectives and knowing what the right answer is can be contextual so that having insight from God helps us to apply the right answer.
answered 56 mins ago
NathanNathan
1
New contributor
Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"Too many cooks spoil the broth" or "It takes many hands to make light work [ make hard work easier ]" - which one is true? More people is good or bad?
Both are true, and the invitation into tension is also an invitation into wisdom and relationship. Rather than black and white answers, we're encourage to see that many issues have multiple perspectives and knowing what the right answer is can be contextual so that having insight from God helps us to apply the right answer.
answered 56 mins ago
NathanNathan
1
New contributor
Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 56 mins ago
NathanNathan
1
New contributor
Nathan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 56 mins ago
NathanNathan
1
answered 56 mins ago
NathanNathan
1
1
New contributor
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add a comment
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Iconoclast is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Iconoclast is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Iconoclast is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Iconoclast is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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