AISBT ReaderRom 12:16: "Do not be wise in your own eyes" (Prov 3:7; Isa 5:21) in the MT and LXX
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Rom 12:16: "Do not be wise in your own eyes" (Prov 3:7; Isa 5:21) in the MT and LXX

Says Rom 12:16 ends μὴ γίνεσθε φρόνιμοι παρʼ ἑαυτοῖς. Prov 3:7 has אַל־תְּהִי חָכָם בְּעֵינֶיךָ (al-tehi khakham be'eynekha, "Be not wise in your own eyes," BSB; BDB p. 314); Swete has μὴ ἴσθι φρόνιμος παρὰ σεαυτῷ.

Says Paul's wording is nearer the LXX than the Hebrew: he has the LXX's φρόνιμος and παρά with the reflexive, where the Hebrew has "in your eyes."

Says The Hebrew and the LXX are singular (תְּהִי, Qal jussive, second person singular; ἴσθι). Paul's verb and adjective are plural, and he has γίνεσθε for ἴσθι.

Says Isa 5:21 is plural: הוֹי חֲכָמִים בְּעֵינֵיהֶם (hoy khakhamim be'eyneyhem, "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes," BSB). Swete has Οὐαὶ οἱ συνετοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, with συνετοί and ἐν, not Paul's φρόνιμοι and παρά.

Uncertain How strong the link is. Prov 3:7 is the nearer verbal echo, but no formula marks a quotation; Isa 5:21 is a thematic parallel at most. Paul has a similar phrase at 11:25, ἑαυτοῖς φρόνιμοι.

Claims

  • SaysRom 12:16 ends μὴ γίνεσθε φρόνιμοι παρʼ ἑαυτοῖς; Prov 3:7 MT אַל־תְּהִי חָכָם בְּעֵינֶיךָ; Swete μὴ ἴσθι φρόνιμος παρὰ σεαυτῷ.
  • SaysPaul's wording is nearer the LXX (φρόνιμος, παρά with the reflexive) than the Hebrew ("in your eyes").
  • SaysMT תְּהִי and LXX ἴσθι are singular; Paul's verb and adjective are plural, with γίνεσθε for ἴσθι.
  • SaysIsa 5:21 MT הוֹי חֲכָמִים בְּעֵינֵיהֶם is plural; Swete Οὐαὶ οἱ συνετοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς has συνετοί and ἐν, not φρόνιμοι and παρά.
  • UncertainProv 3:7 is the nearer verbal echo, not a marked quotation; Isa 5:21 is a thematic parallel at most; compare Rom 11:25 ἑαυτοῖς φρόνιμοι.

Citations

  • OSHB CC BY 4.0 Prov 3:7 (תְּהִי morph HVqj2ms; חָכָם morph HAamsa); Isa 5:21 (חֲכָמִים morph HAampa)
  • BDB CC BY 4.0 חָכָם (H2450), p. 314, entry h.cg.ab
  • LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Prov 3:7 (vol. 2 p. 420; apparatus: "εκκλιναι A", nothing at the quoted words). LXX read on the Swete page image, vol. 2 (1896), p. 420.
  • LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Isa 5:21 (vol. 3 p. 109; apparatus: "εαυτοις] αυτοις Γ"). LXX read on the Swete page image, vol. 3 (1912), p. 109.
  • SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 12:16; 11:25
  • BSB public domain Prov 3:7; Isa 5:21
Sources OSHB CC BY 4.0 LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BDB CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0

Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

2026-11-05

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