גַּ֤ם אֱוִ֣יל מַ֭חֲרִישׁ חָכָ֣ם יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב אֹטֵ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֣יו נָבֹֽון׃
(Proverbs 17:28)
Today’s Hebrew lesson takes us into a poetic proverb. With only a few words, this verse reveals deep wisdom—and teaches us a lot about how Hebrew words and sentences work.
English Translation (Plain and Clear)
Even a fool, when he is silent, is considered wise; one who shuts his lips is thought discerning.
This proverb uses poetic parallelism: it says the same idea two different ways. Let’s dive into the Hebrew step by step.
Word Order: Hebrew’s Poetic Flow
Poetry in Hebrew often plays with normal word order. In a story, Hebrew usually starts with the verb. But here, the subject often comes first—for emphasis. For example, אֱוִיל (fool) appears early, so we focus on who is being talked about.
Also, the two halves of the verse mirror each other. This is called parallelism—a key part of Hebrew poetry.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Hebrew Word | Meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| גַּם | Also / Even | This word adds emphasis. Here it means “even”—as in “even a fool…” |
| אֱוִיל | fool | This noun means “fool” or “foolish person.” It’s the subject of the first clause. |
| מַחֲרִישׁ | being silent | This is a participle form (a verb acting like a noun or adjective). It comes from the root חָרַשׁ, meaning “to be silent.” It describes what the fool is doing—staying quiet. |
| חָכָם | wise | This is an adjective (“wise”), and it tells us how the fool is seen by others when silent. |
| יֵחָשֵׁב | is considered | This is a passive imperfect verb. It means “he will be thought of” or “is considered.” It’s passive because the subject (the fool) is not doing the action—others are thinking about him. |
| אֹטֵם | one who shuts | Another participle, this time from the root אָטַם, meaning “to shut” or “to close.” This word describes the next person—someone who keeps their mouth closed. |
| שְׂפָתָיו | his lips | שְׂפָתָיִם = “lips” (dual). The -ָיו ending means “his.” Together: “his lips.” |
| נָבֹון | discerning / understanding | This noun/adjective means someone who understands deeply—a person of insight. It mirrors “wise” in the first half. |
Visual Guide: Two People in Parallel
| Person | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Fool (אֱוִיל) | Silent (מַחֲרִישׁ) | Considered wise (חָכָם יֵחָשֵׁב) |
| One who shuts his lips (אֹטֵם שְׂפָתָיו) | Closes mouth | Is called discerning (נָבֹון) |
Both lines say the same thing using different words. This is classic Hebrew poetry style—and a great way to learn synonyms and structure.
What We Learned from This Sentence
- Even simple words can teach deep grammar: You saw participles, passive verbs, and noun endings.
- Hebrew poetry is full of parallel ideas: It often repeats meaning with different words.
- You’re already seeing how Hebrew builds wisdom into its structure: One root, like חָרַשׁ, can give rise to many beautiful expressions.
Learning Biblical Hebrew doesn’t have to start with big grammar books. It can start with one verse, one line, one idea—just like today. You’re learning the language of the Bible, one word at a time.
