De la Biblia...

Question

Part of Proverbios 24:11 reads: "...libra del peligro a los que están por morir." My question is, doesn't "estar por" mean "to be in the mood for?", but that can't be the case aquí.

Answer 1

Estar por + infinitivo can also mean 'to be about to' or 'to be on the verge of'.

Proverbs 24:11 New Century Version (NCV) 11 Save those who are being led to their death; rescue those who are about to be killed.

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Proverbs 24:11 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) 11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain—

Here is a good article about the uses of 'estar'.

Another question then, since I thought (and thought was clarified) that estar para + infinitive means, "to be about to," or "to be on the verge of"? - jstackiv, Sep 24, 2013

Yes, 'estar para' can also mean 'to be about to'... :) - NikkiLR, Sep 24, 2013

Answer 2

"Rescue those who are being taken away to death" (English Standard Version Bible) Just as there are many English versions of the Bible, there are also many Spanish versions,

"Libra a los que son llevados a la muerte" (La Biblia de las Américas)

"Si dejares de librar los que son tomados para la muerte" (La Biblia Reina-Valera)