Translation commentary on Proverbs 11:25

The two lines of this verse affirm the same thought and have essentially the same meaning. They agree with the idea expressed in the first line of verse 24.

“A liberal man will be enriched”: “A liberal man” is literally “a soul of blessing,” which is made up of two feminine nouns in the Hebrew. New Revised Standard Version has “a generous person.” Note Good News Translation “Be generous.” “Will be enriched” is literally “will be made fat,” which is an idiom for “grow rich” or “become prosperous.” The sense of this line is that the generous person will be rewarded with wealth. We may translate, for example, “If you are generous, you will become rich.”

“And one who waters will himself be watered”: “Waters” renders a form of the verb “to water” in the sense of giving someone a drink of water. “Be watered” means “will receive a drink of water in return.” Some translations render this line in a more general way: “If you help others, they will help you too.”

We may translate this verse, for example, “Be generous to other people and you will receive things in return. Give someone a drink of water and someone will give you a drink too.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 11:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 11:25:

  • Kupsabiny: “A generous person gets blessings/gifts/rewards,
    and the one who helps others will be helped.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “An openhearted man
    will become prosperous,
    the one who helps others
    will himself receive help.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A generous man will-prosper. A man who helps others will- also -be-helped-out.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “One who is consistently-merciful/kind will be rewarded. The one who helps his fellow/companion, he will also be helped.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Southeastern Dinka (Dinka Cam): “The person who has a heart and gives to other people generously is generously given to.”
  • Southwestern Dinka (Dinka Rek): “It is the gift which is the wealth and if you are a giver, then you will be given.”
  • Northeastern Dinka (Dinka Padang): “The person who gives, prospers, for the bowl goes and the bowl comes.” (Here a local proverb “The bowl goes, and the bowl comes” was used, meaning “The person who gives food (in a bowl), will in turn receive food when he is in need.”) (source for this and two above: Jacobus Naudé / Cynthia Miller-Naudé in Noss / Houser 2019, p. 293)
  • English: “Those who give generously to others will prosper;
    if you help others, they/someone will help you, too.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 11:25

11:25

In most of the proverbs in chapters 10–15, the parallel parts contrast in meaning. Here the parallel parts are similar in meaning.

25a
A generous soul will prosper ;

25b and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Both lines speak about the rewards of being generous to others.

11:25a

A generous soul will prosper: The meaning of this line is similar to 11:24a. The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as A generous soul is literally “soul of blessing.” It refers to a person who blesses needy people. He does this by showing them kindness and generously giving them gifts to help them.

will prosper: In Hebrew, will prosper is literally “will be made fat.” This expression is used literally of raising fat, healthy animals. In this context, it should be understood figuratively to refer to prosperity as well as good health and satisfaction. Most versions translate this word similarly to the way the Berean Standard Bible does. The New Living Translation (1996) expresses the meaning of the Hebrew word more broadly by saying:

The generous prosper and are satisfied (New Living Translation (1996))

11:25b

he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed: In Hebrew, this line is literally “he who waters will himself also be watered.” There are two ways to interpret this line:

(1) This line has a figurative meaning. It is a metaphor that compares a person who refreshes or helps needy people to someone who thoroughly waters parched farmland. For example:

those who help others will themselves be helped (New Century Version)

(2) This line has a literal meaning. It refers to someone who gives a thirsty person a drink of water. For example:

and one who gives water will get water (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions.

will himself be refreshed: This is a passive phrase. In some languages, it may be more natural to use an active verb and supply a subject. The implied subject is probably other people in general. For example:

and if a person helps others, ⌊there will also be people⌋ who help him

General Comment on 11:25a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts of both lines. See 11:25a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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