Translation commentary on Proverbs 24:11

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death”: “Rescue” is a term used frequently in Proverbs for saving or delivering someone from death or enemies (11.4, 6; 12.6; 19.19; 23.14). In this context it may refer to ransoming prisoners of war or to taking legal action to set people free who have been unjustly condemned in the courts; Good News Translation suggests this by saying “someone who is about to be executed unjustly.” “Those who are being taken away” refers to people being “led away” (New International Version) to execution (“death”). Some commentators think that this and the parallel term in the next line describe the way these people are walking; with this in mind, both Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible render the word “being dragged.”

“Hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter”: This line is parallel to the previous line, and the individual terms are quite similar in meaning. Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version combine the two lines to avoid repetition, and this may be a good approach for translators in some other languages. “Hold back” is similar in meaning to “Rescue” and has the sense of “keeping” or “keeping back” someone from a dangerous situation. In Hebrew there is a particle attached to this verb, which in this context makes it more emphatic. “Those who are stumbling” is similar in meaning to “those who are being taken away”; New International Version renders it as “those staggering,” and Revised English Bible “those being hauled off.” The word “slaughter” is related to a verb for “kill” that usually involves ruthless violence. In this context where it is parallel to the term “death”, it probably refers to “execution” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible).

In translation it may be necessary to help readers to understand the situation that this verse refers to. Two examples of the way this may be done are “If the court has wrongly condemned someone to die, then you must go and get this person back.” Or “If people are wanting to kill someone, but it is not right that this person should die, don’t be afraid to go and save 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 24:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 24:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “You should rescue those people who have been accused for no reason who are heading towards death.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Deliver those who are about to be killed unjustly.
    Don’t delay in setting them free.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (sing.)] do- not -neglect to save the people who have no sin who were-sentenced to-be-killed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Save/Rescue (sing.) the one condemned to die. Don’t (sing.) ignore-it if they take-(him)-away to go kill (him).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 24:11

Paragraph 24:11–12 Saying 25

In 24:11, the teacher advises the young man to rescue people who are in danger of being killed. In 24:12, he warns him not to make excuses for failing to act. The reason is that God knows that such an excuse is not valid.

24:11

Both lines of this verse mean almost the same thing. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

11a
Rescue those being led away to death,

11b
restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

The following verse makes it clear that the young man knows what is happening. He knows that these people do not deserve to die. He also knows that he could help them if he wanted to. In some languages, it may be more natural to make some of this information explicit in verse 11a. For example,

⌊If you know that⌋ a person faces death ⌊and he does not deserve to die⌋ , rescue him.

24:11a

Rescue those being led away to death: This clause does not specify who faces death. It probably refers to:

(a) people who have been wrongly condemned to death by a court

(b) people who are in danger of being killed by their enemies or criminals

The clause also does not specify how these people will be rescued. It could be by legal action, by paying a ransom, or by some other means. If possible, translate in a way that allows one or more of these options.

being led away: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “being taken.” It implies here that these people are being literally taken somewhere against their will. For example:

Deliver those who are being taken away to death (New American Standard Bible)

Some English versions understand the phrase being led away figuratively and leave this idea implied. For example:

Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die. (New Living Translation (2004))

You may use either option.

24:11b

restrain: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as restrain probably indicates that the young man should keep/prevent the potential victims from continuing on toward their death. It probably does not mean that he should literally grab hold of them and restrain them.

those stumbling toward the slaughter: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stumbling creates a vivid picture in the mind of the reader. It describes someone who staggers or sways unsteadily as he walks toward the place where he will be killed.

However, this word should probably be understood figuratively. It probably refers to someone whose chances of staying alive are very uncertain. It probably does not refer to someone who literally stumbles.

slaughter: In this context, the word slaughter refers to one or more people being executed or killed. It does not necessarily refer to a situation such as a massacre in which many people are killed.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

don’t stand back and let them die (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
rescue those who are about to be killed (New Century Version)

General Comment on 24:11a–b

These two lines refer to the same situation. In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

Don’t hesitate to rescue someone who is about to be executed unjustly. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Don’t fail to rescue those who are doomed to die. (Contemporary English Version)

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