אַל־יְקַנֵּ֣א לִ֭בְּךָ בַּֽחַטָּאִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־בְּיִרְאַת־֝יְהוָ֗ה כָּל־הַיֹּֽום׃
(Proverbs 23:17)
Let your heart not be jealous of sinners but rather in the fear of YHWH all the day
Introducing the Phenomenon
Among the various conjunctions in Biblical Hebrew, the sequence כִּי אִם plays a nuanced role in constructing contrastive statements. It often functions to negate one clause or expectation and replace it with an alternative—frequently associated with exclusion, contrast, or restriction. In Proverbs 23:17, this subtle but powerful construction guides the moral instruction by contrasting two directions of the heart: envy of the wicked versus reverent fear of יְהוָה.
Dissecting the Syntax: A Clause-Level Investigation
The First Clause
אַל־יְקַנֵּ֣א לִ֭בְּךָ בַּֽחַטָּאִ֑ים
This imperative negation uses אַל with a jussive form יְקַנֵּ֣א (“let not be jealous”), forming a negative instruction. The subject is לִ֭בְּךָ (“your heart”), and the object of the envy is בַּֽחַטָּאִ֑ים (“sinners”).
The Second Clause
כִּ֥י אִם־בְּיִרְאַת־֝יְהוָ֗ה כָּל־הַיֹּֽום
This is where the primary grammatical feature resides. The contrastive conjunction כִּי אִם does not function here as causal (“for if”) but rather as a corrective contrast: “but rather.” It counters the first clause, rejecting jealousy of sinners in favor of continual reverence for יְהוָה.
Morphology and Word Formation
- יְקַנֵּ֣א – Form: Piel jussive 3rd person masculine singular. Root: קנא. Notes: The jussive mood aligns with the negative imperative אַל, creating an exhortative command.
- לִ֭בְּךָ – Form: noun with 2nd person masculine singular pronominal suffix. Root: לבב. Notes: Represents the inner seat of thought, emotion, and volition.
- בַּֽחַטָּאִ֑ים – Form: preposition בְּ + plural noun with definite article. Root: חטא. Notes: Indicates the object of jealousy.
- כִּ֥י אִם – Notes: Fixed idiomatic pair functioning as a contrastive conjunction: “but rather,” “except that.”
- בְּיִרְאַת־יְהוָה – Construct chain (סְמִיכוּת): “in the fear of YHWH.” Root: ירא. Notes: Construct form highlights possession or association.
- כָּל־הַיֹּֽום – Noun phrase: “all the day.” Root: יום. Notes: Temporal modifier indicating constancy.
Semantic Depth of כִּי אִם
This construction introduces a marked contrast that is not merely oppositional but corrective. It implies not only what one should avoid, but what should replace that behavior. Rather than allowing the heart to be consumed with envy, the instruction replaces this inner orientation with something deeper and continuous: reverence for יְהוָה.
The phrase כִּי אִם could be translated in several ways depending on the context, such as:
- “but rather” (as here)
- “except that” (in conditional clauses)
- “unless” (rare conditional nuance)
The context here—Proverbial wisdom literature—demands moral contrast and correction, which makes “but rather” the most fitting semantic rendering.
Discourse Function and Literary Context
The entire verse fits a standard wisdom literature pattern: a prohibition followed by a positive alternative. By using כִּי אִם, the verse achieves more than contrast—it redirects moral attention from social envy to spiritual devotion. It offers an interpretive framework for inner life.
The use of כָּל־הַיֹּֽום underscores the persistent nature of this reverence: it is not situational, but habitual. Together, the syntactic structure and semantic scope create a cohesive, rhythmical, and ethical instruction that is both universal and continuous.
Masoretic Notes
The verse is marked by teʿamim that highlight its bifurcated structure:
- The first clause ends with a zaqef qaton under בַּֽחַטָּאִ֑ים, signaling the end of a primary clause.
- The second clause continues fluidly, without a major disjunctive pause until the final סֽוֹף־פָּסוּק (end-of-verse marker).
This reflects the intended reading flow: one movement to reject, another to replace.
Contrastive Syntax That Shapes the Heart
The syntactic structure of Proverbs 23:17 is simple on the surface but profound in effect. The conjunction כִּי אִם does not merely provide a grammatical link—it performs a moral reversal. It rejects the default setting of human comparison and envy, turning the focus toward continual reverence for יְהוָה. Through careful attention to syntax, morphology, and discourse, we see how this small phrase carries immense spiritual and linguistic weight.
