II. The Seven Collections of Proverbs

With part 4 of this series, we concluded our examination of the first of six interpretative principles for reading the book of Proverbs: recognize the characteristics of a proverb. With this present post we are in a position to look at the second principle: placing individual passages within the overall structure of Proverbs. The comprehensive schematic arrangement of individual proverbs found in the book of Proverbs reflects that it is a ???collection of collections of wisdom material??? (Hubbard, Proverbs, p. 153). The point of this brief post is to identify the seven collections in Proverbs.

Each of the seven sections has their own unique introduction. These introductory headings are found at 1:1; 10:1; 22:17; 24:23; 25:1; 30:1; and 31:1. These various headings reflect that there were initially seven different collections of proverbial material with each section having its own specific purposes. These were then collected into the book of Proverbs.

In light of the above diagram that identifies the seven collections in Proverbs, each individual passage or proverb must be interpreted in light of the section in which it is found. Of course, this will also need to be integrated with the overall context of the book of Proverbs; however, this will need to wait until we look at the fifth hermeneutical guideline. Prior to discussing the fifth interpretative principle, there are some basic guidelines to consider and we will take up the third one with our next post.

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Proverbs, Wisdom literature

With part 3 of this series, I itemized the first four types of parallelism found in Proverbs. With this post, we will finish the last two types of parallelism and then conclude the development of the first of six hermeneutical guidelines for interpreting Proverbs by looking at the fifth characteristic of individual proverbs

5. Specification

With this type of parallelism, each line adds more specific details to the first line. Sometimes this specification may be spatial (see Isa 45:12), explanatory (Isa 48:20b???21), dramatic (Ps 72:9) or purpose. Proverbs 4:1 provides an example of purposeful specification.

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,

and be attentive, that you may gain insight.

6. Intensification

This is closely related to the preceding category. The second line rephrases the first line in a more forceful or intense manner. It could also reflect a more pointed or extreme manner. This is analogous to an a fortiori argument, if this is so, how much more so the latter. This may be used with numbers for climactic effect as in Proverbs 30:18???19.

Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand:

(1) the way of an eagle in the sky,

(2) the way of a serpent on a rock,

(3) the way of a ship on the high seas,

(4) and the way of a man with a virgin.

The pattern in this type of numerical intensification is commonly referred to as the X/X + 1 pattern. The emphasis in this type of parallelism is generally on the last enumerated item. In our example, this would be ???the way of a man with a maid.???

The two dominant forms of parallelism in the book of Proverbs are that of contrast and comparison. The most dominant of the two forms is parallelism of contrast. In Proverbs 10???15 approximately 90% of the proverbs are contrastive. This sets before the reader the responsibility to choose wisdom over folly. The comparative parallelism essentially says that at a common point ???A is like B??? (Parsons, ???Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Proverbs,” pp. 155???56).

E. A biblical proverb is an observation about life as filtered through special revelation.

A biblical proverb is different than a non-biblical proverb. The non-biblical proverb is a concise, memorable saying expressing a generally accepted observation about life, but it is not necessarily integrated with Scriptural truth. In contrast to wise men who wrote non-biblical proverbs, the biblical sage would additionally integrate his observations with special revelation. He would subsequently express his biblically interpreted observations in written proverbial form. By following the canons of proverbial literature, a biblically-informed sage would express his life observations in a proverbial format that is inherently oriented to be stated as generalized truth, allowing for possible exceptions (Stein, Playing By the Rules, pp. 85???86).

With my next post, we will look at the second of six hermeneutical principles for interpreting Proverbs.

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Proverbs, Wisdom literature

Because of my schedule, I have been slow in continuing my pace on Interpreting the Book of Proverbs. As you may recall, in part 2 of this series, I focused on the first of six hermeneutical guidelines for interpreting Proverbs: recognizing the characteristics of a proverb. With the next two posts I will continue to develop this first hermeneutical principle by providing a descriptive list of six types of parallelism that are found in Proverbs. With this post, we will look at the first four types.

1. Synonymous

Synonymous parallelism is the most basic type of parallelism. With this type of parallelism, the second colon essentially repeats the first. Consider Proverbs 1:20.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the markets she raises her voice.

2. Contrast

This has also been called antithetical parallelism. This occurs when the poet places a line in contrast to its corresponding line. Proverbs 10:4

A slack hand causes poverty,

but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

3. Subordination

In this case one line is grammatically subordinated to the other line. In Proverbs 3:27 the first line involves a command and the second a temporal clause.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to do it.

4. Comparison

This has also been called emblematic parallelism. This is related to the subordination category of parallelism in that the comparative clause is subordinate to the other. However, in this case, a comparison is made between two lines in such a way that it forms a simile. Proverbs 10:26

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

so is the sluggard to those who send him.

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Proverbs