58:4 Their venom is like that of a snake, 1
like a deaf serpent 2 that does not hear, 3
21:13 The one who shuts his ears 4 to the cry 5 of the poor,
he too will cry out and will not be answered. 6
7:11 “But they refused to pay attention, turning away stubbornly and stopping their ears so they could not hear.
1 tn Heb “[there is] venom to them according to the likeness of venom of a snake.”
2 tn Or perhaps “cobra” (cf. NASB, NIV). Other suggested species of snakes are “asp” (NEB) and “adder” (NRSV).
3 tn Heb “[that] stops up its ear.” The apparent Hiphil jussive verbal form should be understood as a Qal imperfect with “i” theme vowel (see GKC 168 §63.n).
4 sn The imagery means “pay no attention to” the cry for help or “refuse to help,” so it is a metonymy of cause for the effect.
5 sn “Cry” here would be a metonymy of effect for the cause, the cause being the great needs of the poor.
6 sn The proverb is teaching that those who show mercy will receive mercy. It involves the principle of talionic justice – those who refuse the needs of others will themselves be refused when they need help (so Luke 16:19-31).