Proverbs 2:5

2:5 then you will understand 1  how to fear the Lord, 2 

and you will discover 3  knowledge 4  about God. 5 

1 tn The verb בִּין (bin, “to perceive; to understand; to discern”) refers to ability to grasp, discern or be sensitive to what it means to fear the Lord.

2 tn Heb “the fear of the Lord.” The noun is an objective genitive; the Lord is to be the object of fear and reverence.

3 tn Heb “find” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV).

4 tn The term דַּעַת (da’at, “knowledge”) goes beyond cognition; it is often used metonymically (cause) for obedience (effect); see, e.g., Prov 3:6, “in all your ways acknowledge him,” and BDB 395 s.v. This means that the disciple will follow God’s moral code; for to know God is to react ethically and spiritually to his will (e.g., J. H. Greenstone, Proverbs, 18).

5 tn Heb “knowledge of God.” The noun is an objective genitive.