19:2
The two lines in this verse imply similar advice. Together these lines describe the bad consequences of acting too quickly without thinking. It is not good for a person to do this, because he will go astray.
2a Even zeal is no good without knowledge,
2b and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
Some versions follow the order of the Hebrew more literally. For example:
2a
Desire without knowledge is not good,
2b and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way. (New Revised Standard Version)
It is implied by the parallelism that a person who acts hastily does not gain the knowledge that he needs. He acts in response to his zeal or desire without first thinking of a good or sensible way to accomplish his goals.
19:2a
Even zeal is no good without knowledge: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as zeal has many meanings. Often it refers to a person’s “soul” or “life.” In this context, there are two main ways to interpret this word:
(1) The word refers to a strong desire or eagerness to do something. For example:
Where knowledge is wanting, zeal is not good. (New Jerusalem Bible)
(2) The word refers to a person. For example:
It is not good for a man to be without knowledge. (Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars. The idea of “zeal” or “desire” makes a better parallel with the idea of acting hastily in the second line.
Even zeal is no good: This phrase is probably a figure of speech (deliberate understatement) that means “bad” or “dangerous.” For example:
It is dangerous to have zeal (NET Bible)
Some other ways to translate 19:2a are:
Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good (Good News Translation)
-or-
If a person strongly desires to do something and acts without thinking, the result will be bad/failure.
19:2b
and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way” (English Standard Version). This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, a person who acts hastily is compared to a person who hurries along a path and misses the right way. Similarly, someone who is in a hurry to do something makes mistakes and wrong decisions.
The phrase “with his feet” is a figure of speech. In this figure of speech, the feet represent the entire person.
misses the mark: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as misses the mark is often translated as “sin.” Here in the context of hurrying to do something, it refers to making an error or a wrong choice.
Some ways to translate this metaphor are:
• Keep some of the figurative language. For example:
and he who hurries his footsteps errs (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
If you are too eager, you will miss the road. (Contemporary English Version)
• Translate the meaning without using figures of speech. For example:
A person in a hurry makes mistakes. (God’s Word)
-or-
and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices (NET Bible)
-or-
impatience will get you into trouble (Good News Translation)
General Comment on 19:2a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder some of the parallel parts. For example:
If a person is in a hurry and does not think about the right way to accomplish his desires, the result will be failure.
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