Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Proverbs 28:2

NETBible	When a country is rebellious¹ it has many princes,² but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable³ order is maintained.⁴
NIV © biblegateway Pro 28:2	When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
NASB © biblegateway Pro 28:2	By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
NLT © biblegateway Pro 28:2	When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is stability.
MSG © biblegateway Pro 28:2	When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it--But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.
BBE © SABDAweb Pro 28:2	Because of the sin of the land, its troubles are increased; but by a man of wisdom and knowledge they will be put out like a fire.
NRSV © bibleoremus Pro 28:2	When a land rebels it has many rulers; but with an intelligent ruler there is lasting order.
NKJV © biblegateway Pro 28:2	Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged.
[+] More English


KJV	For the transgression <06588> of a land <0776> many <07227> [are] the princes <08269> thereof: but by a man <0120> of understanding <0995> (8688) [and] knowledge <03045> (8802) the state <03651> [thereof] shall be prolonged <0748> (8686)_. {by...: or, by men of understanding and wisdom shall they likewise be prolonged}
NASB © biblegateway Pro 28:2	By the transgression <06588> of a land <0776> many <07227> are its princes <08269> , But by a man <0120> of understanding <0995> and knowledge <03045> , so <03651> it endures <0748> .
LXXM	(35:2) di <1223> PREP amartiav <266> N-GSF asebwn <765> A-GPM kriseiv <2920> N-APF egeirontai <1453> V-PMI-3P anhr <435> N-NSM de <1161> PRT panourgov <3835> A-NSM katasbesei {V-FAI-3S} autav <846> D-APF
NET [draft] ITL	When a country <0776> is rebellious <06588> it has many <07227> princes <08269> , but by someone <0120> who is discerning <0995> and knowledgeable <03045> order is maintained <0748> .
HEBREW	Kyray <0748> Nk <03651> edy <03045> Nybm <0995> Mdabw <0120> hyrv <08269> Mybr <07227> Ura <0776> espb (28:2) <06588>

NETBible

When a country is rebellious¹ it has many princes,² but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable³ order is maintained.⁴

NET Notes

¹sn The Hebrew word translated “rebellious” has rebellion as its basic meaning, and that is the idea here. The proverb is describing a time when sinfulness brings about social and political unrest.

²tn Heb “many are its princes” (so NASB).

²sn In such a chaotic time there will be many rulers, either simultaneously or in a rapid sequence. The times of the judges or the days of the northern kings of Israel provide examples.

³tn Heb “a man who understands [and] knows”; NRSV “an intelligent ruler”; NLT “wise and knowledgeable leaders.”

⁴tc The LXX reads (probably from a different underlying Hebrew text): “It is the fault of a violent man that quarrels start, but they are settled by a man of discernment.” For a survey of suggestions, see C. H. Toy, Proverbs (ICC), 495, and W. McKane, Proverbs (OTL), 630.

⁴tn This last line is difficult. The MT has כֵּן יַאֲרִיךְ (ken ya’arikh). The verb means “to prolong,” but כֵּן (ken) is open to several possibilities for meaning. J. H. Greenstone’s interpretation of it as a noun from the Hollow root כּוּן (kun) with a meaning of “established order” is what is expected here (Proverbs, 293).

⁴sn For a study of the verses in chapters 28 and 29 concerning kings and governments, see B. V. Malchow, “A Manual for Future Monarchs,” CBQ 47 (1985): 238-45.