Discovery BoxProverbs 12:9 
Context12:9 Better is a person of humble standing 1 who nevertheless has a servant, 2
than one who pretends to be somebody important 3 yet has no food.
Proverbs 17:2
Context17:2 A servant who acts wisely 4 will rule
over 5 an heir 6 who behaves shamefully, 7
and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. 8
Proverbs 27:27
Context27:27 And there will be enough goat’s milk for your food, 9
for the food of your household,
and for the sustenance 10 of your servant girls.
1 tn Heb “one who is lightly regarded.” The verb קָלָה (qalah) means “to be lightly esteemed; to be dishonored; to be degraded” (BDB 885 s.v.).
2 tn The meaning of the phrase וְעֶבֶד לוֹ (vÿ’eved lo) is ambiguous; the preposition is either possessive (“has a servant”) or a reflexive indirect object (“is a servant for himself”; cf. NAB, TEV). Several versions (LXX, Vulgate, Syriac) read “and yet has a servant.”
3 tn Heb “who feigns importance.” The term מְתַכַּבֵּד (mÿtakkabed, from כָּבֵד, caved, “to be weighty; to be honored; to be important”) is an example of the so-called “Hollywood” Hitpael which describes a person putting on an act (BDB 458 s.v. כָּבֵד Hitp.2).
sn This individual lives beyond his financial means in a vain show to impress other people and thus cannot afford to put food on the table.
4 sn The setting is in the ancient world where a servant rarely advanced beyond his or her station in life. But there are notable exceptions (e.g., Gen 15:3 where the possibility is mentioned, 1 Chr 2:35 where it changed through marriage, and 2 Sam 16:1-4; 19:24-30, with the story of Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth). This proverb focuses on a servant who is wise, one who uses all his abilities effectively – a Joseph figure.
5 sn The parallelism indicates that “ruling over” and “sharing in the inheritance” means that the disgraceful son will be disinherited.
6 tn Heb “son.”
7 tn The form מֵבִישׁ (mevish) is a Hiphil participle, modifying בֵן (ben). This original heir would then be one who caused shame or disgrace to the family, probably by showing a complete lack of wisdom in the choices he made.
8 tn Heb “in the midst of the brothers”; NIV “as one of the brothers.”
9 sn This part of the proverb shows the proper interplay between human labor and divine provision. It teaches people to take care of what they have because it will not last forever.
10 tn Heb “life”; KJV, NAB “maintenance”; NRSV “nourishment.”
