Proverbs 22:3 vs. Proverbs 27:12

What are the lexical/grammatical differences between Proverbs 22:3 and Proverbs 27:12 in the Original Hebrew Text?

Proverbs 22:3 and Proverbs 27:12 are nearly identical in the Hebrew text, both conveying the same core idea: a prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions, while the simple or foolish person proceeds and suffers the consequences. However, a close examination of the Hebrew text reveals subtle lexical and grammatical differences. Below, I analyze the two verses based on the Masoretic Text (MT), the standard Hebrew text of the Hebrew Bible, and highlight any differences.Proverbs 22:3 (Hebrew Text)עָר֤וּם רָאָ֣ה רָעָ֣ה וַיִּסְתָּ֑ר וּפְתָאיִ֥ם עָבְר֖וּ וְנֶעֱנָֽשׁוּ׃Proverbs 27:12 (Hebrew Text)עָר֤וּם רָאָ֣ה רָעָ֣ה וְנִסְתָּ֑ר פְּתָאיִ֥ם עָבְר֖וּ וְנֶעֱנָֽשׁוּ׃Lexical and Grammatical Analysis

1. Core Similarity:
• Both verses are nearly identical in structure and vocabulary, with only one minor difference in a single word (וַיִּסְתָּר vs. וְנִסְתָּר). The meaning of both verses is essentially the same: a prudent person sees danger and hides, while the simple pass on and are punished.
• The key lexical items are identical:
• עָרוּם (‘arum): "prudent" or "shrewd."
• רָאָה (ra’ah): "sees" (Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular).
• רָעָה (ra’ah): "evil" or "danger" (feminine singular noun).
• וּפְתָאיִם / פְּתָאיִם (peta’im): "simple" or "naive" (plural noun).
• עָבְרוּ (‘avru): "pass on" or "proceed" (Qal perfect, 3rd person plural).
• וְנֶעֱנָשׁוּ (vene’anshu): "and are punished" (Niphal perfect, 3rd person plural).
2. Key Difference:
• The primary difference lies in the verb form used for "hides":
• Proverbs 22:3: וַיִּסְתָּר (vayyisttar) – This is a Qal imperfect with waw-consecutive, 3rd person masculine singular, from the root סתר (satar), meaning "to hide" or "to take refuge." The waw-consecutive typically indicates a sequential action in narrative or a result, often translated as "and he hides."
• Proverbs 27:12: וְנִסְתָּר (venisttar) – This is a Niphal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular, from the same root סתר. The Niphal stem often carries a passive, reflexive, or middle voice, and here it can be translated as "and he is hidden" or "he hides himself." The waw is a simple conjunction ("and") rather than a waw-consecutive, and the perfect tense suggests a completed or stative action.
3. Grammatical Implications:
• The use of וַיִּסְתָּר (Qal, waw-consecutive imperfect) in Proverbs 22:3 emphasizes the active response of the prudent person, suggesting a deliberate act of hiding or taking cover in response to seeing danger. The waw-consecutive may imply a sequence: "he sees danger and then hides."
• The use of וְנִסְתָּר (Niphal, perfect) in Proverbs 27:12 suggests a slightly different nuance, potentially emphasizing the state of being hidden or the result of the action (i.e., "he is hidden" or "he has hidden himself"). The Niphal can imply a reflexive sense ("he hides himself") or a passive sense ("he is hidden"), which may subtly shift the focus to the outcome rather than the act itself.
• The shift from imperfect (22:3) to perfect (27:12) could reflect a stylistic variation or a contextual nuance. The imperfect in 22:3 may suggest an ongoing or habitual action, while the perfect in 27:12 may present the action as complete or definitive.
4. Minor Orthographic Difference:
• In Proverbs 22:3, the word for "simple" is written as וּפְתָאיִם (with a waw before peta’im), while in Proverbs 27:12, it is פְּתָאיִם (without the waw). However, this is not a significant lexical difference, as the waw in 22:3 is a conjunctive "and" that connects the two clauses. Its absence in 27:12 does not alter the meaning, as the conjunction is implied by the context and structure.
5. Syntactic Structure:
• Both verses follow a parallel structure typical of Hebrew proverbs, contrasting the prudent (עָרוּם) with the simple (פְּתָאיִם). The syntax is nearly identical:
• Subject (עָרוּם) + verb (רָאָה) + object (רָעָה) + verb (וַיִּסְתָּר/וְנִסְתָּר).
• Subject (פְּתָאיִם) + verb (עָבְרוּ) + verb (וְנֶעֱנָשׁוּ).
• The only syntactic difference arises from the verbal form of "hides" (discussed above), which does not disrupt the overall parallelism.

Semantic and Contextual Considerations

• The difference between וַיִּסְתָּר (Qal) and וְנִסְתָּר (Niphal) is subtle and may not significantly alter the meaning in translation, as both describe the prudent person avoiding danger. However, the Niphal in 27:12 might emphasize the result (being hidden) or a reflexive action (hiding oneself), while the Qal in 22:3 focuses on the act of hiding.
• These variations could reflect stylistic preferences or scribal traditions, as Proverbs often repeats sayings with slight modifications to reinforce themes. The repetition of this proverb in two different chapters suggests its importance in the wisdom tradition, with the slight variation possibly serving to highlight different aspects of prudence.

ConclusionThe primary lexical/grammatical difference between Proverbs 22:3 and Proverbs 27:12 in the Hebrew text is the form of the verb "to hide": וַיִּסְתָּר (Qal imperfect with waw-consecutive) in 22:3 versus וְנִסְתָּר (Niphal perfect) in 27:12. This results in a slight nuance, with 22:3 emphasizing the active act of hiding and 27:12 potentially highlighting the state of being hidden or the reflexive nature of hiding oneself. Additionally, the presence of a conjunctive waw before פְּתָאיִם in 22:3 is a minor orthographic difference that does not affect meaning. Otherwise, the verses are lexically and structurally identical, reflecting the repetitive style of Hebrew wisdom literature.If you would like further analysis (e.g., comparison in specific translations like the Septuagint or Vulgate, or a deeper dive into the semantic implications), please let me know!