Parallel Strong's Berean Study BibleTo start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out. Young's Literal Translation The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife. King James Bible The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. Hebrew To startרֵאשִׁ֣ית (rê·šîṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 7225: The first, in place, time, order, rank a quarrel מָד֑וֹן (mā·ḏō·wn) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4066: A contest, quarrel is to release פּ֣וֹטֵֽר (pō·w·ṭêr) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6362: To cleave, burst through, to emit a flood; מַ֭יִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen so abandon נְטֽוֹשׁ׃ (nə·ṭō·wōš) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 5203: To pound, smite, to disperse, to thrust off, down, out, upon the dispute הָרִ֥יב (hā·rîḇ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7379: Strife, dispute before וְלִפְנֵ֥י (wə·lip̄·nê) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face it breaks out. הִ֝תְגַּלַּ֗ע (hiṯ·gal·la‘) Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1566: To expose, lay bare |