בְּ֭נִי לְחָכְמָתִ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י הַט־אָזְנֶֽךָ׃
Contextual Introduction
Proverbs 5:1 begins a fatherly appeal warning against the seductive power of immorality, urging the hearer to embrace wisdom. As is typical in biblical wisdom literature, the verse uses poetic parallelism, imperative mood, and possessive structures to engage the hearer emotionally and intellectually. The language is not simply instructional—it is relational and urgent, using grammar to reinforce the gravity of the moral path ahead.
Grammatical Focus: Imperative Mood, Construct Phrases, and Poetic Parallelism
1. בְּ֭נִי – Vocative Expression
– בְּ֭נִי (“My son”) is a vocative used to open many exhortations in Proverbs (cf. Prov 1:8, 3:1).
– It sets a relational tone, emphasizing personal concern and intimate instruction.
2. לְחָכְמָתִ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה – Prepositional Object with Qal Imperative
– לְחָכְמָתִ֣י (“to my wisdom”) is a prepositional phrase expressing the object of attention.
– חָכְמָה (“wisdom”) in construct with ־תִי (“my”) makes the appeal personal.
– הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה is a Hiphil imperative masculine singular from קָשַׁב (“to incline, to listen attentively”), meaning “pay attention to.”
3. לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י הַט־אָזְנֶֽךָ – Syntactic Parallel with Complementary Imperative
– לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י (“to my understanding”) parallels לְחָכְמָתִ֣י and forms a synonymous poetic pair.
– הַט (“incline”) is a Hiphil imperative from נָטָה (“to stretch, to bend”), calling for deliberate engagement.
– אָזְנֶֽךָ (“your ear”) is the direct object of the verb, evoking attentive listening.
Together, this clause means: “Incline your ear to my understanding.”
Theological and Literary Implications
This verse communicates that wisdom must be actively pursued. The paired imperatives—הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה and הַט—demand mental and physical attentiveness. The repetition of the prepositional object phrases (לְחָכְמָתִ֣י, לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י) reinforces the purpose: not merely to hear, but to internalize moral discernment.
Poetically, the parallel structure aligns wisdom (חָכְמָה) with understanding (תְבוּנָה), underscoring their unity. The relational address בְּ֭נִי ensures that this is not abstract advice—it is the urgent instruction of a loving mentor.
Versions and Comparative Usage
The Septuagint reads: υἱέ, πρόσεχε τῇ σοφίᾳ μου· τῇ γὰρ συνέσει μου ἐπίκλινον τὸ οὖς σου—closely matching the Hebrew’s imperatives and parallel objects.
The Vulgate: fili mi, ad sapientiam meam intende, ad prudentiam meam inclina aurem tuam—retains the double imperative structure with Latin equivalents.
In later Hebrew and rabbinic literature, imperatives like these often transition to third-person legalistic discourse. The directness of the Biblical Hebrew imperatives emphasizes immediacy and personal responsibility.
When Wisdom Speaks, Ears Must Bow
Proverbs 5:1 opens with a poetic summons—grammatically compact, emotionally rich. Through paired imperatives and mirrored phrases, it models what it commands: attentiveness. Wisdom begins not with accumulation of facts, but with the humility to listen. And in Biblical Hebrew, even the grammar leans forward, ear bent, toward understanding.
