NETBible KJV GRK-HEB XRef Arts Hymns
  Discovery Box

Proverbs 23:5

Context

23:5 When you gaze upon riches, 1  they are gone,

for they surely make wings for themselves,

and fly off into the sky like an eagle! 2 

1 tc The Kethib is הֲתָעוּף (hatauf), “do your eyes fly [light] on it?” The Qere is the Hiphil, הֲתָעִיף (hataif) “do you cause your eyes to fly on it?” But the line is difficult. The question may be indirect: If you cast your eyes on it, it is gone – when you think you are close, it slips away.

tn The term “riches” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation based on the previous verse.

2 sn This seventh saying warns people not to expend all their energy trying to get rich because riches are fleeting (cf. Instruction of Amememope, chap. 7, 9:10-11 which says, “they have made themselves wings like geese and have flown away to heaven”). In the ancient world the symbol of birds flying away signified fleeting wealth.



TIP #05: Try Double Clicking on any word for instant search. [ALL]
created in 0.03 seconds
powered by bible.org