| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the imperative shama {שְׁמַע | šə·māʿ} ‘hear’ addressing the vocative beni {בְּנִי | bə·nî} ‘my son.’ The construct musar avikha {מוּסַר אָבִיךָ | mû·sār ʾā·ḇî·ḵā} ‘instruction of your father’ balances with torat immekha {תּוֹרַת אִמֶּךָ | tō·raṯ ʾim·mê·ḵā} ‘teaching of your mother,’ highlighting paternal and maternal roles. The compound ve-altitosh {וְאַל־תִּטֹּשׁ | wə·ʾal tiṯ·ṭōš} uses the prohibitive particle ʾal with a jussive verb to express a negative command. This parallelism and command structure exemplify Hebrew wisdom syntax, emphasizing complete parental guidance. |