| 9. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the nominal clause batteihem {בָּתֵּיהֶם | bā-tê-hem} ‘their houses’ followed by shalom {שָׁלוֹם | šā-lōm} ‘peace’ modified by the prepositional phrase mi-pachad {מִפָּחַד | mi-pā-ḥaḏ} ‘from fear’. The conjunction ve-lo {וְלֹא | wə-lōʾ} introduces a parallel clause in which shevet {שֵׁבֶט | šē-ve-ṭ} ‘rod’ enters construct with Eloah {אֱלוֹהַּ | ʾĕ-lō-āh} forming “rod of God,” governed by aleihem {עֲלֵיהֶם | ʿă-lê-hem} ‘upon them’. The chiastic structure contrasts the absence of terror and divine chastisement, emphasizing the temporary security of the wicked. Hebrew employs a nominal clause requiring “are” in English and a negative verbal clause with “does not” to preserve parallelism. |