Does Proverbs Plagiarize from Egyptian Wisdom?
“While the similarities are apparent in a side-by-side comparison, there are also numerous differences and other factors that caution against overplaying the potential link.” - DBTS Blog
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Love these kind of articles!!
I always thought the change in translation from "excellent things" (KJV, NKJV, NASB) to "thirty sayings" (ESV, HCSB, NIV) was an unwarranted nod to the Amenemope theory. Dunham suggests the Heb refers to "officers" and some scholars have suggested that the idea of officers or chief men in connection with these proverbs means something like "chief proverbs" or "choice proverbs" or "excellent words," like how James 2:8 refers to the chief commandment as the royal law. It appears that is why the KJV, NKJV, and NASB translates the word as it does, and I feel like that is the right way to go.
When I studied this out a few years back (in a very limited way), I concluded that there indeed was a resemblance to Amenemope. Not straight plagiarism, but clearly a literary influence. Wisdom can be based on observation as well as divine revelation, and the two can coexist.
"The Midrash Detective"
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