וָֽאֶהְיֶ֥ה אֶצְלֹ֗ו אָ֫מֹ֥ון וָֽאֶהְיֶ֣ה שַׁ֭עֲשֻׁעִים יֹ֤ום יֹ֑ום מְשַׂחֶ֖קֶת לְפָנָ֣יו בְּכָל־עֵֽת׃ (Proverbs 8:30)
Then I was beside Him, like a master-worker, and I was His delight day by day, playing before Him at all times.
This verse is a masterpiece of Hebrew poetic artistry, where the speaker—personified Wisdom—uses verbal repetition and parallelism to create rhythm, emphasis, and intimacy with the divine Creator. Two repeated verbal structures stand out: וָאֶהְיֶה (“and I was”) and the iterative יֹום יֹום (“day by day”). These elements reveal how Hebrew grammar leverages repetition not as redundancy, but as a stylistic and rhetorical device.
Repetition of וָאֶהְיֶה: A Poetic Anchor
The verb וָאֶהְיֶה (wayyiqtol form of הָיָה, “to be”) occurs twice in the verse. In narrative prose, such repetition would seem unnecessary. But in poetry, its duplication creates:
- Emphasis on presence: “I was beside Him… I was His delight.” Wisdom defines herself not by a single action, but by an enduring relationship of being.
- Structural balance: The two occurrences frame the verse, bracketing the descriptive elements between them.
- Poetic rhythm: The cadence of repeated verbs mirrors the steady beat of Hebrew poetic lines.
The Phrase יֹום יֹום: Daily Delight
The doubling of יֹום (“day”) is an example of distributive repetition in Hebrew. Instead of merely saying “every day,” the text intensifies the phrase by repeating it, producing a sense of constancy and joy that extends across time. This device turns an abstract idea (“always”) into a living rhythm (“day by day”).
Parsing the Key Elements
| Form | Morphology | Sense | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| וָאֶהְיֶה | Wayyiqtol (Qal imperfect 1cs) from הָיָה | “And I was” | Repetition highlights presence and role of Wisdom |
| אָמֹון | Uncertain noun, often read as “master-worker” | “Skilled craftsman / foster-child” | Textually debated; reflects Wisdom’s role in creation |
| שַׁעֲשֻׁעִים | Plural abstract noun | “Delight / joy” | Indicates reciprocal delight between Wisdom and God |
| יֹום יֹום | Noun repeated for distributive force | “Day by day” | Repetition intensifies temporal scope |
| מְשַׂחֶקֶת | Participle, Piel fem. sg. | “Playing” | Continuous joy before God |
Masoretic Texture and Literary Effect
The Masoretic accentuation separates the first וָאֶהְיֶה from its following phrase, giving it rhetorical pause. This accentual spacing emphasizes Wisdom’s role as אָמֹון (“master-worker”). Later accents bind שַׁעֲשֻׁעִים and יֹום יֹום closely, mirroring the intimacy of delight. The play of accents, therefore, is not mere music but a theological statement about Wisdom’s eternal fellowship with God.
Playfulness Before the Creator
The double “I was” and the distributive “day by day” create a rhythm of intimacy and constancy. Wisdom is not only present in creation but also rejoicing within it. The grammar itself, through repetition, embodies delight. What might seem like a simple doubling in Hebrew is actually the heartbeat of the verse, pulsing with divine companionship.