Proverbs 1:20 — ExegesisTAB

Proverbs 1:20 exhibits synonymous parallelism, introduced by the personified noun chokhmot {חָכְמוֹת | ḥā-ḵə-mōṯ} as subject of two coordinated clauses. Each clause begins with a prepositional phrase, bachutz {בַּחוּץ | bā-ḥūts} and barechovot {בָּרְחוֹבוֹת | bā-re-ḥō-vōṯ}, marking public locations. The verbs taronnah {תָּרֹנָּה | tā-rōnnāh} (Qal imperfect third person feminine plural) and titten {תִּתֵּן | tit-tēn} (Qal imperfect third person feminine singular) convey ongoing proclamation. The chiastic arrangement of location and action enhances the emphasis on Wisdom’s accessible appeal in communal spaces. The translation renders these imperfect forms with active English verbs to preserve the dynamic, iterative sense.