Proverbs 1:11

Context

1:11 If they say, “Come with us!

We will¹ lie in wait² to shed blood;³

we will ambush⁴ an innocent person⁵ capriciously.⁶

Proverbs 1:17-18

Context

1:17 Surely it is futile to spread⁷ a net

in plain sight of⁸ any bird,⁹

1:18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood,¹⁰

they ambush their own lives!¹¹

[1:11] ¹tn This cohortative נֶאֶרְבָה (ne’ervah) could denote resolve (“We will lie in wait!”) or exhortation (“Let us lie in wait!”). These sinners are either expressing their determination to carry out a violent plan or they are trying to entice the lad to participate with them.

[1:11] ²tn The verb אָרַב (’arav, “to lie in wait”) it is used for planning murder (Deut 19:11), kidnapping (Judg 21:20), or seduction (Prov 23:28).

[1:11] ³tn Heb “for blood.” The term דָּם (dam, “blood”) functions as a metonymy of effect for “blood shed violently” through murder (HALOT 224 s.v. 4).

[1:11] ⁴tn Heb “lie in hiding.”

[1:11] ⁵tn The term “innocent” (נָקִי, naqi) intimates that the person to be attacked is harmless.

[1:11] ⁶tn Heb “without cause” (so KJV, NASB); NCV “just for fun.” The term חִנָּם (khinnam, “without cause”) emphasizes that the planned attack is completely unwarranted.

[1:17] ⁷tn Heb “for the net to be spread out.” The Pual participle of זָרָה (zarah) means “to be spread” (HALOT 280 s.v. I זרה pu.1). The subject of this verbal use of the participle is the noun הָרָשֶׁת (harashet, “the net”). It is futile for the net to be spread out in plain view of birds.

[1:17] ⁸tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

[1:17] ⁹tn Heb “all of the possessors of wings.”

[1:18] ¹⁰sn They think that they are going to shed innocent blood, but in their blindness they do not realize that it is their own blood they shed. Their greed will lead to their destruction. This is an example of ironic poetic justice. They do not intend to destroy themselves; but this is what they accomplish.

[1:18] ¹¹tn Heb “their own souls.” The term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “soul”) is used as a metonymy (= soul) of association (= life). The noun נֶפֶשׁ often refers to physical “life” (Exod 21:23; Num 17:3; Judg 5:18; Prov 12:10; BDB 659 s.v. 3.c).