Translation commentary on Proverbs 18:16

Verses 16-18 are concerned with legal procedures.

“A man’s gift makes room for him”: “Gift” renders the same word used in 21.14. Some interpreters believe that Revised Standard Version “gift” should be translated “bribe,” but most modern translations are as Revised Standard Version. “Makes room” is literally “makes wide” and means “gives access” or “opens the way.” The sense is that giving a gift to certain people of influence makes it easier for the giver to have access to these people. Bible en français courant says “Offering a gift opens many doors. . .” and Revised English Bible “A gift opens the door to the giver,” where “opens the door” means “gives the giver opportunity or access to others.”

“And brings him before great men”: Here “brings” has the same sense as “makes room” in line 1. “Great men” does not necessarily mean that the men are persons of great accomplishment but that they are bosses or persons having some degree of power and influence. Bible en français courant calls them “highly placed persons,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “important people.”

In some languages this verse is restructured as an “if” sentence; for example, “If you want to talk with an important person, you must take a present to give him, and then he will let you see him.”

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 18:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 18:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “Straight is the path of a man with a white stomach (generous).
    What he gives out makes him eat together with rulers.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If [you] want to meet any important people,
    go taking along a gift.
    This will make it easy to meet [them].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You can- easily -meet an honorable man if you bring gift for him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Give an important person a gift if you want to be-able-to-(get-to)-know him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 18:16

18:16

In this verse, 18:16b further explains the meaning of 18:16a. It specifies the kind of opportunity that a gift opens up for the one who gives it.

16a A man’s gift opens doors for him,

16b and brings him before great men.

18:16a

A man’s gift opens doors for him: This clause is literally “The gift of a man/person widens for him.” This is a figure of speech (personification). The gift that a person gives is described as someone who makes the giver’s path wider. As a result, he can more easily reach his destination.

In this context, it means that a gift creates opportunities for the person who gives it. It figuratively opens doors and gives him access to people who can help him achieve his goals. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

A gift opens doors for the one who gives it (God’s Word)
-or-
Giving a gift helps a person to accomplish what he wants

18:16b

and brings him before great men: This line continues the personification of 18:16a. The gift “leads” or “guides” the giver into the presence of important people who have influence. Some other ways to translate this line are:

and leads him before important people (NET Bible)
-or-
and gains him access to great men (New American Bible)

General Comment on 18:16a–b

In some languages, it may be clearer or more natural to reorder some of the phrases in these two lines. For example:

Taking a gift to an important man will help get you in to see him. (New Century Version)
-or-
Do you want to meet an important person? Take a gift and it will be easy. (Good News Translation)

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