| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the predicate adjective aqov {עָקֹב | ʿā-qōḇ} ‘deceitful’, positioned before the subject halev {הַלֵּב | hal-lēḇ} ‘the heart’, thereby foregrounding the heart’s deceptive character. The modifier mikol {מִכֹּל | mi-kōl} ‘above all’ functions as a superlative, indicating that its deceit surpasses every other thing. The vav conjunction on veanush {וְאָנֻשׁ | wə-ʾā-nūš} ‘and incurable’ adds a parallel attribute, intensifying the portrait by depicting the heart as beyond remedy. The pronoun hu {הוּא | hūʾ} introduces a verbless clause that reinforces the assertion. The question mi yedaennu {מִי יֵדָעֶנּוּ | mî yē-ḏā-ʿen-nū} poses a rhetorical question in the imperfect, suggesting a continuing inability to fully know the heart. In English, the predicate adjective is moved after the subject to conform to standard syntax, and the semicolon links the descriptive clause to the rhetorical question in both reconstructions. |