Tag Archives: Proverbs 17:27

Proverbs 17:27 – Construct Chains and Elliptical Parallelism

חֹושֵׂ֣ךְ אֲ֭מָרָיו יֹודֵ֣עַ דָּ֑עַת וְקַר־֝ר֗וּחַ אִ֣ישׁ תְּבוּנָֽה׃ One who restrains his words knows knowledge, and one who is cool of spirit is a man of understanding. Explanation of Feature This verse from Proverbs 17:27 showcases two poetic and grammatical features: 1. Construct chains (סְמִיכוּת), such as אִישׁ תְּבוּנָה (“a man of understanding”), where one noun modifies another in a genitive-like relationship. 2. Elliptical parallelism, in which the second clause mirrors the first but omits repeated grammatical elements, allowing readers to supply them from context.… Learn Hebrew
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