Pro 3:18 | NET2full | STEP | She is like a tree of life to those who grasp onto her, and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.

‏ Proverbs 3:18

18 She is like ^{▼▼tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor.} a tree of life ^{▼▼sn The metaphor compares wisdom to the symbol of vitality and fullness of life. This might be an allusion to Gen 3:22, suggesting that what was lost as a result of the Fall may be recovered through wisdom: long and beneficial life (R. Marcus, “The Tree of Life in Proverbs,” JBL 62 [1943]: 117-20).} to those who grasp onto her,
and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed. ^{▼▼tn The singular participle מְאֻשָּׁר (meʾushar, literally, “he will be blessed”) functions as a distributive singular for a plural subject (GKC 464 §145.l): “each and everyone will be blessed.” Not recognizing this point of syntax, the BHS editors unnecessarily suggest emending this singular form to the plural.}