Proverbs 2:1–6

In its context

Its words in the original

• בְּנִbeni· son

  Son. In the plural it can include sons and daughters, and also grandsons and descendants. "Son of..." also says what group someone belongs to ("sons of Israel" = Israelites).

• תִּקַּחtikach· take

  Take: seize, take along, receive. Also "take a wife" (marry).

• אֲמָרָamara· words, sayings

  Words, sayings. In Genesis 49:21, some read "fawns".

• מִצְוֺתַmitsvota· commandment

  Commandment: an order given by one in authority; above all, those of God.

• תִּצְפֹּןtitspon· hide, treasure up

  Hide, keep in a safe place; store up; also lie in wait.

• הַקְשִׁיבhakshiv· pay attention, listen

  To pay attention, to listen carefully, to prick up the ears. It is more than hearing: it is heeding what is said.

• חָכְמָהchachma· wisdom, skill

  Wisdom: knowing how to live and act well; also the skill of a good craftsman.

• אָזְנֶazne· ear

  Ear. "Speak in someone's ears" is to tell him something directly.

• תַּטֶּהtate· stretch out, turn aside

  Stretch out, spread; pitch a tent. Also bend, incline; turn aside, pervert (justice).

• לִבְּlib· heart

  Heart. In Hebrew it is not only the place of feelings: it is the center of the person, where one thinks, decides and wills; also the middle of something.

• תְּבוּנָהtevuna· understanding

  Understanding: the ability to understand and to find the right way.

• בִּינָהbina· understanding

  Understanding: the ability to comprehend and to tell one thing from another.

• תִקְרָאtikra· call, proclaim

  Call: speak out to someone, summon, invite, give a name, proclaim; also read aloud. "Call on the name of YHWH" is to pray to him and worship him.

• תִּתֵּןtiten· give, put, set

  Give, in a very wide sense: hand over, put, place, grant, allow, make something be.

• קוֹלֶkole· voice, sound

  Voice or sound: what is heard, from a person, an animal or a thing (thunder, steps).

• תְּבַקְשֶׁtevakshe· seek

  Seek, look for; also require, demand an account.

• כָּסֶףkasef· silver, money

  Silver. Since payment was made by weighing silver, the word also means "money".

• מַּטְמוֹנִיםmatmonim· hidden treasure

  Hidden treasure; treasure stored away.

• תַּחְפְּשֶׂtachpse· search

  Search carefully, examine; in another form, disguise oneself.

• תָּבִיןtavin· understand, discern

  Understand, discern: perceive clearly, distinguish, see what ought to be done.

• יִרְאַתyirat· fear

  Fear. "The fear of God" is deep reverence that leads one to obey him and avoid evil.

• יְהוָהyehva· YHWH

  The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

• דַעַתdaat· knowledge

  Knowledge: knowing something, and also knowing it by experience.

• אֱלֹהִיםelohim· Elohim, God, gods

  The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.

• תִּמְצָאtimtsa· find

  Find, come upon; also obtain, reach; in the passive, be found, be present.

• פִּיpi· mouth

  Mouth. Also what someone says or commands ("by the mouth of" = by the word of); the edge of a sword; "according to".