Page 105 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

Keywords sometimes dominate a section, giving us the topic and calling us back to the topic from time
to time so we do not forget and stray in our interpretation. Chapter 13 begins with another wisdom
saying of introduction. Then in successive verses the human appetite is highlighted. Our English
translations sometimes blur the connections, but the Hebrew word nephes, often translated “soul,” is
used four times (“appetite” v. 2, “lives” v. 3, “appetite” v. 4, “desires” v. 4). The English words bring out
the shades of meaning for “soul” and set the tone for the chapter since they are repeated in 13:8 (“life”),
9 (“soul”), and 25 (“hearts”). Our appetites or desires can drive much of what we think, say, and do. Our
desires might drive us to pretend to be rich or poor (v. 7). Our desires fulfilled give us life and left
unfulfilled make us sick (v. 12). Behind our appetites is our prior commitment to righteousness or
wickedness (13:5, 6, 9, 21, 22, 25). How important it is to know that “the righteous eat to their hearts’
[soul’s] content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry”! This wisdom accepted into one’s mind and
heart is a powerful motivator and a proper topic for parents to pass on to their children (13:1).

Another form that can be found in Proverbs is actually a structural pattern called chiasm. Using the
name for the Greek letter X, chiasm pictures what the author means. Proverbs 14:8-15 is sometimes
used as an example. The passage begins and ends with the prudent person (vv. 8, 15), addresses
payment for wrong (vv. 9, 14), the condition of the heart (vv. 10, 13), and the end of destruction (vv. 11,
12). The overall message is about watching one’s way carefully (vv. 8, 12, 14, 15) and not being taken in
by appearances. The central verses communicate this theme (vv. 11, 12). The “house of the wicked” may
appear to be more solid than the “tent of the upright”, but the wicked “will be destroyed” and “end in
death” even if for a time it “appears right.” The chiastic structure looks like this:

A The prudent and the fools (v. 8)
B Making amends for sin (v. 9)
C Secrets of the heart (v. 10)
D Destruction of the wicked and prosperity of the upright (v. 11)
D’ Deceptive way to death (v. 12)
C’ Secrets of the heart (v. 11)
B’ Being repaid for sin (v. 12)
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A’ The simple and the prudent (v. 13)

All these techniques and others are simply tools to help us better understand and communicate the
truths in Proverbs. The verses were not placed together randomly. Reflecting on possible connections
challenges us to see not only the links between verses but also to see ties among different parts of life
when they may not be apparent. A prudent woman (14:8), for example, understands the value of a
seemingly small life that is actually flourishing (14:11).

172 This structure is adapted from Waltke, Proverbs, vol. 1, 588.
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