Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Proverbs 17:14

NETBible	Starting a quarrel¹ is like letting out water;² stop it before strife breaks out!³
NIV © biblegateway Pro 17:14	Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
NASB © biblegateway Pro 17:14	The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
NLT © biblegateway Pro 17:14	Beginning a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
MSG © biblegateway Pro 17:14	The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts.
BBE © SABDAweb Pro 17:14	The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
NRSV © bibleoremus Pro 17:14	The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so stop before the quarrel breaks out.
NKJV © biblegateway Pro 17:14	The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
[+] More English


KJV	The beginning <07225> of strife <04066> [is as] when one letteth out <06362> (8802) water <04325>_: therefore leave off <05203> (8800) contention <07379>_, before <06440> it be meddled <01566> (8694) with.
NASB © biblegateway Pro 17:14	The beginning <07225> of strife <04066> is like letting <06362> out water <04325> , So abandon <05203> the quarrel <07379> before <06440> it breaks <01566> out.
LXXM	exousian <1849> N-ASF didwsin <1325> V-PAI-3S logoiv <3056> N-DPM arch <746> N-NSF dikaiosunhv <1343> N-GSF prohgeitai <4285> V-PMI-3S de <1161> PRT thv <3588> T-GSF endeiav {N-GSF} stasiv <4714> N-NSF kai <2532> CONJ mach <3163> N-NSF
NET [draft] ITL	Starting <07225> a quarrel <04066> is like letting out <06362> water <04325> ; stop <05203> it before <06440> strife <07379> breaks out <01566> !
HEBREW	swjn <05203> byrh <07379> elgth <01566> ynplw <06440> Nwdm <04066> tysar <07225> Mym <04325> rjwp (17:14) <06362>

NETBible

Starting a quarrel¹ is like letting out water;² stop it before strife breaks out!³

NET Notes

¹tn Heb “the beginning of a quarrel”; TEV, CEV “The start of an argument.”

²tn The verse simply begins with “letting out water.” This phrase is a metaphor, but most English versions have made it a simile (supplying “like” or “as”). R. N. Whybray takes it literally and makes it the subject of the clause: “stealing water starts a quarrel” (Proverbs [CBC], 100). However, the verb more likely means “to let out, set free” and not “to steal,” for which there are clearer words.

²sn The image involves a small leak in a container or cistern that starts to spurt out water. The problem will get worse if it is not stopped. Strife is like that.

²tc The LXX has “The outpouring of words is the beginning of strife.” This would make it a warning against thoughtless talk.

³tn The temporal clause is formed with the prepositional “before,” the infinitive construct, and the following subjective genitive. The verb גָּלַע (gala’) means “to expose; to lay bare,” and in the Hitpael “to disclose oneself; to break out.”