לֵ֤ב חָכָם֙ לִֽימִינֹ֔ו וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִ֖יל לִשְׂמֹאלֹֽו׃
(Ecclesiastes 10:2)
The heart of the wise is to his right, but the heart of the fool is to his left.
This poetic proverb from Ecclesiastes gives us a brilliant way to study Biblical Hebrew structure. It contrasts two people, one wise and one foolish, and shows how Hebrew uses word order, suffixes, and poetic balance to express deep truth in few words.
Let’s break it down word by word so you can learn exactly how the Hebrew sentence is built.
Word Order: Why Is It Like This?
In English, we might say: “The wise man’s heart is to his right.” Hebrew, however, often emphasizes key ideas first, especially in poetry. Here, the subject (“heart of the wise”) comes first, followed by its location or result.
This verse is made of two parallel halves connected by the simple word וְ (“and” or “but”). Each half mirrors the other: wise vs. fool, right vs. left.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Hebrew Word | English Meaning | Part of Speech | Grammar & Notes | Role in Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֵ֤ב | heart | Noun | Singular masculine; often represents the mind, will, or inner life | Subject of the first phrase |
| חָכָם֙ | wise (man) | Adjective used as a noun | Describes the owner of the heart; “a wise person” | Part of a construct phrase: “heart of the wise” |
| לִֽימִינֹו | to his right | Prepositional phrase | לְ = “to” (preposition) + יָמִין = “right” + -ו = “his” → appears here as לִימִינֹו (full/plene spelling), though often written לִימִינוֹ in prose | Describes direction or moral orientation |
| וְ | and / but | Conjunction | Used here to contrast the second clause with the first | Links the two halves of the verse |
| לֵ֥ב | heart | Noun | Repeated for poetic parallelism; identical to first clause | Subject of the second phrase |
| כְּסִ֖יל | fool | Noun | Common Biblical Hebrew word for a morally or spiritually foolish person | Describes the fool whose heart is misdirected |
| לִשְׂמֹאלֹֽו | to his left | Prepositional phrase | לְ = “to” + שְׂמֹאל = “left” + -ו = “his” → vowel change yields לִשְׂמֹלוֹ; this verse uses full spelling לִשְׂמֹאלֹו | Direction of the fool’s heart; implies error or misalignment |
Poetry in Motion: Hebrew Parallelism
This verse is a perfect example of parallelism, a foundational poetic feature in Hebrew scripture. Notice:
- First clause: Heart of the wise → right
- Second clause: Heart of the fool → left
Each line mirrors the other in rhythm and structure. The contrast is both grammatical and thematic, making the lesson stick more powerfully in the mind and heart of the reader.
Tips for Beginners
- Pay attention to suffixes: The small -ו at the end of words like לִימִינֹו means “his.” You’ll see it often.
- Prepositions change shape: The preposition לְ (“to”) causes vowel changes when attached to words and suffixes, like “right” (יָמִין) or “left” (שְׂמֹאל).
- Word order reflects emphasis: Hebrew often starts with the most important image, here, the “heart”, followed by what it does or where it goes.
- Right and Left Symbolism: In Hebrew thought, the “right” often represents strength, favor, or truth, while the “left” can imply weakness, deviation, or moral error. This adds a rich layer of meaning.
What We Learned from this Sentence
This one verse gave you insight into how Biblical Hebrew communicates contrast through structure. You learned:
- How prepositions and suffixes combine to form full ideas (“to his right”).
- How Hebrew parallelism works poetically and grammatically.
- How to recognize and parse short noun phrases like “heart of the wise.”
- That even spelling variations (like לִימִינֹו vs. לִימִינוֹ) can offer insight into the poetic or scribal tradition.
Though the verse is short, it teaches direction, identity, and moral contrast — all while showcasing how Hebrew forms sentences with elegance and clarity. You’re already reading real Hebrew poetry and making sense of it. Keep going, you’re learning beautifully!
