לִֽי־֭עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּ֑ה אֲנִ֥י בִ֝ינָ֗ה לִ֣י גְבוּרָֽה׃
(Proverbs 8:14)
Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, strength is mine.
Word-by-Word Explanation
- לִי – “To me” / “Mine”Preposition + Pronoun
– לְ = “to”
– י = “me”
Together, they form a possessive phrase: “is mine” or “belongs to me.” - עֵצָה – “Counsel” Noun, feminine singular
– Refers to guidance, advice, or strategic insight
This word is often associated with wise planning. - וְתוּשִׁיָּה – “and sound wisdom” Noun, feminine singular
– וְ = “and”
– תוּשִׁיָּה = wisdom with stability or resourcefulness
A rich term implying practical, effective insight. - אֲנִי – “I” Independent pronoun
– The speaker here is Wisdom, personified in Proverbs 8
Wisdom is speaking directly to the reader. - בִינָה – “Understanding” Noun, feminine singular
– Related to discernment and insight between things
Not just knowing, but deeply perceiving differences and meaning. - לִי – “To me” / “Mine” (again)Same structure as the first לִי: Preposition + Suffix
Repeated for emphasis: Wisdom possesses these qualities. - גְבוּרָה – “Strength” Noun, feminine singular
– Refers to might, power, heroism, or ability
Surprisingly, wisdom is not weak—she claims strength as well.
Word Order and Sentence Flow
This poetic line is beautifully balanced into two halves:
🡒 First half: לִי עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה
→ “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom”
🡒 Second half: אֲנִי בִינָה לִי גְבוּרָה
→ “I am understanding, strength is mine”
There’s parallelism here:
– Possession phrases לִי … לִי frame the whole verse
– Central declaration: אֲנִי בִינָה (“I am understanding”)
Wisdom’s Claim: Visual Structure
| Hebrew Phrase | English Meaning | Function |
|---|---|---|
| לִי עֵצָה | Counsel is mine | Possession |
| וְתוּשִׁיָּה | and sound wisdom | Possession |
| אֲנִי בִינָה | I am understanding | Identity statement |
| לִי גְבוּרָה | Strength is mine | Possession |
Brick by Brick: Building Hebrew Understanding
You’ve just followed the voice of Wisdom herself—line by line, word by word.
This verse teaches:
– How possession works in Hebrew using לִי
– How Hebrew uses poetic parallelism for rhythm and emphasis
– That abstract nouns like counsel, insight, and strength are grammatically feminine
You’re not just reading about wisdom—you’re listening to her speak. And now, you’re beginning to understand her language.
