z

‘The Fear of the Lord’ as the

Underpinning for Soul Winning:
A Poetic Analysis of Proverbs 2
7th Annual Forum

David Vanlalnghaka Sailo AIIAS Asian

Theological
society

14-15 June, 2019

z
Could we expect to find elements of soul
winning in the Book of Proverbs?
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
but violence takes lives away.
and the one who plucks that good life is wise
- Proverbs 11:30
 and the one who plucks that good life is wise (NASB95)
7th
AATS
“Many Christian preachers have found this a useful translation Annual
Forum
to teach the merits of Christian evangelism.”

Lee M. Fields, “Proverbs 11:30: Soul-winning or Wise Living?” Jets 50/3 517.
See also William Arnot, Studies in Proverbs (repr. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1978) 235-36.
z
Introduction

 “A frequent mistake when interpreting proverbial poetry is to

seek a difference in meaning between two words that are being
used as synonyms. Interpreters should note that some forms of
parallelism emphasize how each of the elements are similar in
meaning between the poetic lines.”

7th
D. Brent Sandy and Ronald L. Giese Jr., eds., Cracking Old Testament Codes: A Guide to Interpreting the AATS
Literary Genres of the Old Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1995), 249. Annual
Forum
z
Introduction

 Gradual realization:

 Literary features such as metaphors, similes, pairs and

strings, settings, and the proverbs itself
 are an integral part of wisdom literature

 That they conveys the meaning of the wisdom literature.

7th
AATS
Annual
Forum
z
Introduction

 A study of Proverbs 2 that is attentive to the poetics

elements of the wisdom literature are not many.
 This presentation analyzes the poetics features of
Proverbs 2 with a purpose to “recognize the poetic ways
that sages expressed their wisdom.” Sandy and Jr., eds ., 249.
7th
 Seek to draw principles that may be foundational to soul AATS
Annual
Forum
winning
z
Literary Genre

 It has been widely recognized that a proverb is “usually short,

salty, concrete, fixed, paradigmatic, poetically-crafted saying.”
Sandy and Jr., eds., 234.

 Proverbs also contains non-proverbial wisdom, which are longer

in units. The predominant poetic structure in Proverbs 1:7-9:18 7th
AATS
and 24:23-34 consists of a longer Proverbs in the instructional Annual
Forum
form.
Bullock, 160.
z
Literary Genre

Interpretive Points
 As an instructional form,

 Father and son may represent teacher and student at large

 Wisdom and folly may be personified as two vying women.

 Use of Synonyms: When multiple terms intersect, their shared

7th
nature are emphasized, not the difference. AATS
Annual
Sandy and Jr., eds., 240-241S. NIB Commentary, 8. Forum
z
Literary Settings

 Four cultural settings are identified within the Book of Proverbs:

 The royal court
 The schools
 The scribal circles
 The family settings.
 Proverbs 2 situated within the family settings which contain a 7th
AATS
father’s instruction to the son. Annual
Forum
Sandy and Jr., eds., 237.
z
Literary Settings

 Bullock noted that in the context of the Old Testament, wisdom

“provided the mind with an easily accessible entry into the truth
expressed,” where it raises consciousness to truth.
 Wisdom addresses

 directly to individuals

 while national interests are firmly set in the background. 7th

AATS
Annual
Forum
Bullock, 26-27.
z
Literary Context
The structure of the book of Proverbs based on the
compositional indications: (7 unequal sections)

 Preamble (1:1-7)

 Superscription (1:1) • Sayings of the Wise (22:17-

24:34)
 Preamble (1:2-7)
• Sayings of Agur (30:1-33)
 Extended Discourses on Wisdom
7th
(1:8-9:18) • Sayings of King Lemuel (31:1-9) AATS
Annual
 Solomonic Proverbs (10:1-22:16; • Poem to the Virtuous Woman Forum

25:1-29:27) (31:10-31)

Tremper Longman III, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms, 24-25.
z
Literary Context

 Proverbs 2 is part of the extended discourse where the father

instructed his son to accept the benefits of Wisdom.
Treier, Proverbs & Ecclesiastes, vii; Longmann, "Proverbs," 472-473.

 It serves as an exordium part of a larger discourse

 There are no imperatives (command). 7th

AATS
Longmaan, 117; Loader, Historical Commentary on the Old Testament: Proverbs 1-9, 105. Annual
Forum
z
Literary Context

 Proverbs 2 comprises of
 A complex conditional sentences “if … then” (‫) אָ ז… ִאם‬
 Punctuated with lengthy motive clauses “for” (‫)כִ י‬
 purpose clauses “to/for” (ִִ‫)ל‬
 and the result clause “so that” (‫)לְ מַ עַן‬
 Purpose: The father seeks to present a clear explanation of the 7th
AATS
value of the instructions that would give to his son in the chapters Annual
Forum
that follows.
Murphy, Word Biblical Commentary: Proverbs, 14.
z
Literary Structure
There are more than one ways of structuring Proverbs 2

 It can be broadly divided into

 protasis (vv. 1-4)
 apodosis (vv. 5-19)
 and telic (vv. 20-22)
 Based on 7th
AATS
 the grammatical features and its content matter Annual
Forum
 it can be divided into seven sections.
z
Literary Structure
The structure of Proverbs 2 can be outlined as follows:

 Addressee 2:1a
 The Conditional sentences 2:1b-4  Deliverance from 2:12-19
 The Result clauses #1 2:5  Evil way 2:12-15
 Motive clauses 2:6-7  Strange women 2:16-19
 Purpose clauses 2:8  The Telic clause 2:20
7th
AATS
 Result clauses #2 2:9  The Antithetic conclusion 2:21-22 Annual
Forum
 Motive clauses 2:10-11  positive 2:21
 negative 2:22
z
Literary Structure

 The result clause is found in Proverbs 2:5-6 strongly implies that

the core of what the father teaches the son is “the fear of
YHWH.”

 “The fear of the Lord is where the sages’ worldview began and
ended.” 7th
AATS
Sandy and Jr., eds., 235.
Annual
Forum
z
Literary Structure

 According to Andrew E. Hill, while the word hokmah often refers

to the technical skills to acquire serene and prosperous existence,
the concept of the fear of YHWH is infused in Hebrew wisdom
tradition.
 The concept of the fear of the Lord is what distinguished Hebrew
wisdom from its Ancient Near Eastern counterparts. 7th
AATS
Annual
Forum
Sandy and Jr., eds., 256.
z
Poetics Analysis of Proverbs 2
z
Poetics Analysis of Proverbs 2
The Poetic Features
Assumptions
 Parallelism The author of Proverbs 2 purposefully
 Synonymous integrated some poetics elements.

 Antithetical Rationale
 Synthetic The poetic analysis seeks to understand
the implications of those poetics features
 Simile found in Proverbs 2 and its context.
 Metonymy 7th
Purpose of the study AATS
Annual
 Metaphor is to understand different elements that Forum

are integrated into the text and how they

 Personification
produce certain effects on the readers.
z
Poetics of Parallelism
 Synonymous Parallelism Line #1

Line #2

 Synonymous Parallelism restates/repeats the sense of the first line

 Usually with Synonyms

 In order to reinforce its meaning. Hubbard, 19.

 It may also intensify. Schokel, A Manual of Hebrew Peotics,, 73.

 Both the lines may 7th

AATS
Annual
 contain parallel thought Forum

 uses synonymous words as well. Bullinger, 349.

z
Poetics of Parallelism
 Synonymous Parallelism

 One must be sensitive to the arrangement of the pairs, and

remember that the poet is interested in the symmetrical
arrangement of the element by which a pair can be formed.

7th
 In other words, “all the elements in the list have something in AATS
Annual
common and it is this which the poet stresses.” Forum

 Schokel, 65, 66.

z
Poetics of Parallelism
 Antithetic Parallelism Line #1

Line #2

 It has opposite view of the first line in the second line with the
purpose of an emphasis. Hubbard, 19.

 Two or more lines may have a contrast or opposing sense.

 Bullinger, 250. Bullock, 35.

 Often the second line would not follow the same order. 7th
AATS
Annual
 The second line expresses the antithesis or the contrary sense. Forum

 Bullock, 36, 160.

z
Poetics of Parallelism
 Synthetic Parallelism Line #1

Line #2

 The thought of the first line is extended by additional terms in the

second line. Bullock, 36.

 To give a greater impact on the term, a chiasm is often used.

 The constructions are similar only in form, and there will be no

7th
gradation nor opposition of words in several lines. AATS
Annual
 Bullock, 36, 352. Forum
z
The Analysis of Parallelism
The structure of Proverbs 2

 Addressee 2:1a
 The Conditional sentences 2:1b-4  Deliverance from 2:12-19
 The Result clauses #1 2:5  Evil way 2:12-15
 Motive clauses 2:6-7  Strange women 2:16-19
 Purpose clauses 2:8  The Telic clause 2:20
7th
AATS
 Result clauses #2 2:9  The Antithetic conclusion 2:21-22 Annual
Forum
 Motive clauses 2:10-11  positive 2:21
 negative 2:22
z
The Analysis of Parallelism Addressee (2:1a) – My son ‫בְּ נִ י‬

 The ‘son’ refers to young men in general

 The one who addresses “the son” is the figure of a real father

 The teaching here is didactic in nature, the principles that are

embedded in this pericope may be applicable to a wider audience.

7th
AATS
Annual
Forum
z

The Conditional sentences 2:1b-4

7th
AATS
Annual
Forum

Vv. 1b, 3, and 4 are conditional statements

V. 2 is a purpose clause (Synthetic Parallelism) + to v. 1b
z

The Conditional sentences 2:1b-4

 In v. 1b, the condition is to accept and keep

 In v. 2 to be attentive and to incline is added to the previous verse

 In v. 3, the condition requires the son to play a role, which is to

call and shout out
 Finally in v. 4, the condition is to seek and search.
7th
AATS
Annual
 There is a progression from passive to active. Forum
z

The interpretation

 By accepting his sayings, the father actually mean that

 the son will also keep his commands,

 caused his ears to be attentive,

 inclined his heart to understanding,

 call for intelligence,

 and shout out for understanding. 7th

AATS
 He should even treasure it and seek for it and searches for it diligently. Annual
Forum
z

The interpretation

 The analysis of the parallelism clearly highlighted the father’s

motive and expectations encompasses:
 momentary response

 as well as the actual inculcation of the father’s instruction as a

way of life.
7th
AATS
 See also Michael V. Fox, Proverbs 1-9: A New Translation With Introduction and Commentary Annual
Forum
(New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008), 110.
z

The Result Clause #1 (2:5-8)

7th
AATS
Annual
Forum

• V. 5 has simultaneous action with vv. 1b-4

• When the son accepts the sayings of the father, he will also begin to acquire
the understanding of the fear of YHWH.
z

The Result Clause #1 (2:5-8) A:B / A`:B`

Source of Wisdom

7th
AATS
Annual
Forum

• A sudden appearance of the phrase implies a strong theocentric worldview.

• The rationale is found in the motive clause that follows in v. 6.
• Wisdom is accessible through the words YHWH spoken.
z

The Result Clause #1 (2:5-8)

Shield as metaphor of wisdom (v. 7):

• Wisdom as a shield is a metaphor for protection.

• The metaphoric expression creates a graphical idea.

• V. 8 further explains that God protects the upright by means of

keeping and preserving them (v. 8). 7th
AATS
Annual
• However, the protection is only for the uprights. Forum
z

The Result Clause #2 (2:9-11)

• The lack of parallelism in v. 9 indicates that ‘every good path’ 7th

AATS
includes understanding, judgment, and uprightness. Annual
Forum
Personification: Wisdom is endowed with human attributes
• Abstract ideas are animated to graphically explains the logical
process of acquiring wisdom
z

Deliverance from evil ways and strange women (vv. 12-19)

• Vv. 12 and 16 introduce the way of evil and the strange women
as an object from wisdom would guard the son.

• Series of synthetic parallelism are found in this section.

• The characteristics that are listed in this section are opposite of

the characters stated in the result clauses #1 and #2. 7th
AATS
Annual
• These contrasts help the readers to clearly show what the father Forum
instructed his son to follow and what he should avoid.
z

Telic Clause (2:20) – The final goal of the instruction

Chiastic pattern: A:B B`:A`

7th
AATS
Annual
Forum
z

The Antithetical Conclusion (2:21-22)

• The positive, as well as the negative, result of the conditional 7th

statement is given. AATS
Annual
• And it became clear that the sphere of Proverbs 2 is very Forum

religious, where the value system is attuned to that of YHWH.

z
Conclusions
Significance of Poetic awareness
 Synonymous parallelism, antithetic parallelism, and synthetic
parallelism were all employed to restate, emphasize, contrast, and
adds meaning to the text.
 The relationships between parts of the instructions, the points the
author wanted to emphasize, the cognate that the author intended
in his used of the concept, and the way he adds clarity using 7th
AATS
contrast became helpful and clear only through a careful analysis Annual
Forum
of the poetics features.
z
Conclusions
 The analysis of the poetics features clearly revealed that the
wisdom and instructions given in Proverbs 2 are not worldly
success, wealth, and happiness.
 It is rather about a way of life that is in harmony with the will of
YHWH.
 The underlying basis of life in Proverbs 2 is one’s relationship
with God, and that produced the ability to understand what is
right in the eyes of God. 7th
AATS
Annual
 It also enables a person to have the right relationship with his Forum

fellow men.
z
Conclusions

The Fear of the Lord is about

 Obedience that leads to life

 The father here try to convinced the son to accept his teaching
which will result in the fear of the Lord.
 In its basic concept, what the Father is doing is soul winning
7th
AATS
Annual
Forum
z
Some principles
Few principles can be derived from the analysis
 The approach: Detailed and patient

 Discipleship model: The condition for the son to benefit (result) from his
father’s instruction begins with acceptance, which gradually develop into
total involvement.
 Movement from passive to active - words that we express should turn the
listeners to become active. 7th
AATS
 Contextualization: using metaphors, simile, personification Annual
Forum
z

 Say it in different variety of ways that will make sense to them

 Employ variety of techniques to present your message across

 Explain elaborately and comprehensively

7th
AATS
Annual
Forum
 z

‘The Fear of the Lord’ as the

Underpinning for Soul Winning:
A Poetic Analysis of Proverbs 2
7th Annual Forum

David Vanlalnghaka Sailo AIIAS Asian

Theological
society

14-15 June, 2019