15:31 The person 1 who hears the reproof that leads to life 2
is at home 3 among the wise. 4
15:32 The one who refuses correction despises himself, 5
but whoever hears 6 reproof acquires understanding. 7
1 tn Heb “ear” (so KJV, NRSV). The term “ear” is a synecdoche of part (= ear) for the whole (= person).
2 tn “Life” is an objective genitive: Reproof brings or preserves life. Cf. NIV “life-giving rebuke”; NLT “constructive criticism.”
3 tn Heb “lodges.” This means to live with, to be at home with.
4 sn The proverb is one full sentence; it affirms that a teachable person is among the wise.
5 sn To “despise oneself” means to reject oneself as if there was little value. The one who ignores discipline is not interested in improving himself.
6 tn Or “heeds” (so NAB, NIV); NASB “listens to.”
7 tn The Hebrew text reads קוֹנֶה לֵּב (qoneh lev), the participle of קָנָה (qanah, “to acquire; to possess”) with its object, “heart.” The word “heart” is frequently a metonymy of subject, meaning all the capacities of the human spirit and/or mind. Here it refers to the ability to make judgments or discernment.