First I must apologize for why this is in a debate section. It seems that I have some very critical points of view on some of the comments that I review. This likely will give rise to debates. I don't, however, have a point that I wish to debate in particular except if we should strongly disagree about what is a possible meaning for Proverbs 27:10 or my approach or your approach. I'm mainly looking for ideas and your thoughts rather than a rebuke of my thoughts, so please if you can try to shoot for something like that. Even so, go ahead and let me know how you feel if you'd like to.
In discussing this I would include the plain text but go beyond it, too; searching for indirect meanings. I was going to post a poll of some of the possible interpretations I had thought of, but this OP started getting too long.
You may of course refer to any translation or the original -- provided you explain your analysis and comments in English! (for this English speaking site). I have provided several versions in this spoiler:
Here a few sites that give a terse explanation, mainly repeating what the verse says and going no further. These aren't really what I am looking for, but they do analyze the plain speech in the text should we need someone to do so. I tend to see these kinds of explanations as too brief and not deep but valid in one dimension -- a sort of anchor to the meaning of the verse. Its a Proverb, so I think it must have facets and should have connection with the specific culture it is from. Generalizing too much seems almost like not valuing it.
This one tries a little harder: Q&A 0584 - Interpretation: Proverbs 27:10 | Douglas Jacoby"www.douglasjacoby.com/q-a-0584-interpretation-proverbs-27-10/[/URL]
Some ideas for possible intended meanings or rather than meanings perhaps they are indications of the opinions of the writer:
*Don't live in isolation
*Don't move too far from your parents
*Don't lose touch with friends
*Friendship is stronger than blood
*Be there for your neighbors. Be ready and able to help them.
*Live in a Jewish community
*Anticipate disasters. Be prepared.
You may be able to think of more or carve these down if you think the text doesn't imply anything like them.
What is your thought about Jacoby's criticism of searching for hidden meanings for the verse?
In discussing this I would include the plain text but go beyond it, too; searching for indirect meanings. I was going to post a poll of some of the possible interpretations I had thought of, but this OP started getting too long.
You may of course refer to any translation or the original -- provided you explain your analysis and comments in English! (for this English speaking site). I have provided several versions in this spoiler:
(WLC) רעך ורעה אביך אל־תעזב ובית אחיך אל־תבוא ביום אידך טוב שכן קרוב מאח רחוק׃
(NIV) Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative's house when disaster strikes you--better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
(NLT) Never abandon a friend--either yours or your father's. When disaster strikes, you won't have to ask your brother for assistance. It's better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.
(KJV) Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: [for] better [is] a neighbour [that is] near than a brother far off.
(LXX) φίλον σὸν ἢ φίλον πατρῷον μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς εἰς δὲ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου μὴ εἰσέλθῃς ἀτυχῶν κρείσσων φίλος ἐγγὺς ἢ ἀδελφὸς μακρὰν οἰκῶν
(VUL) amicum tuum et amicum patris tui ne dimiseris et domum fratris tui ne ingrediaris in die adflictionis tuae melior est vicinus iuxta quam frater procul
(JPS of 1917) Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity; better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
There are others. I do not include them all. Also at least one is under copyright, and I cannot find a public copy on the 'net.
(NIV) Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative's house when disaster strikes you--better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
(NLT) Never abandon a friend--either yours or your father's. When disaster strikes, you won't have to ask your brother for assistance. It's better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.
(KJV) Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: [for] better [is] a neighbour [that is] near than a brother far off.
(LXX) φίλον σὸν ἢ φίλον πατρῷον μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς εἰς δὲ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου μὴ εἰσέλθῃς ἀτυχῶν κρείσσων φίλος ἐγγὺς ἢ ἀδελφὸς μακρὰν οἰκῶν
(VUL) amicum tuum et amicum patris tui ne dimiseris et domum fratris tui ne ingrediaris in die adflictionis tuae melior est vicinus iuxta quam frater procul
(JPS of 1917) Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity; better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
There are others. I do not include them all. Also at least one is under copyright, and I cannot find a public copy on the 'net.
Here a few sites that give a terse explanation, mainly repeating what the verse says and going no further. These aren't really what I am looking for, but they do analyze the plain speech in the text should we need someone to do so. I tend to see these kinds of explanations as too brief and not deep but valid in one dimension -- a sort of anchor to the meaning of the verse. Its a Proverb, so I think it must have facets and should have connection with the specific culture it is from. Generalizing too much seems almost like not valuing it.
This one tries a little harder: Q&A 0584 - Interpretation: Proverbs 27:10 | Douglas Jacoby"www.douglasjacoby.com/q-a-0584-interpretation-proverbs-27-10/[/URL]
Some ideas for possible intended meanings or rather than meanings perhaps they are indications of the opinions of the writer:
*Don't live in isolation
*Don't move too far from your parents
*Don't lose touch with friends
*Friendship is stronger than blood
*Be there for your neighbors. Be ready and able to help them.
*Live in a Jewish community
*Anticipate disasters. Be prepared.
You may be able to think of more or carve these down if you think the text doesn't imply anything like them.
What is your thought about Jacoby's criticism of searching for hidden meanings for the verse?
