| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the optative idiom mi-yitten {מִֽי־יִ֭תֵּן | mî-yit·tēn} ‘if only’, introducing a pointed wish. It is followed by the emphatic Hiphil infinitive absolute hacharesh {הַחֲרֵ֣שׁ | haḥărēš} ‘be silent’ paired with the Hiphil imperfect tacharishun {תַּחֲרִישׁ֑וּן | taḥărîšûn} ‘you would be silent’, a common Hebrew intensification strategy using the cognate infinitive absolute before a finite verb. The conjunction vav in u-tehi {וּתְהִ֖י | ûṯəhî} links the result clause, with the Qal imperfect third person feminine singular marking the potential outcome. The double prepositional phrase lakhem lechokhmah {לָכֶ֣ם לְחָכְמָֽה | lāḵem lᵊ-ḥōkh·māh} indicates both beneficiary and evaluative predicate, literally ‘to you as wisdom’. English conveys the optative with ‘If only’ and preserves the emphatic pairing to maintain the ironic admonition. |