יָמֽוּתוּ׃

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 יָמֽוּתוּ׃

   ya-MU-tu

   they will die
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 בַּחֲסַר־לֵ֥ב יָמֽוּתוּ׃

   ba-kha-SAR-LEV ya-MU-tu

   in lack of heart they will die
3. clause🔊 וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים בַּחֲסַר־לֵ֥ב יָמֽוּתוּ׃

   ve-e-VI-lim ba-kha-SAR-LEV ya-MU-tu

   but fools in lack of heart they will die
4. sentence🔊 שִׂפְתֵ֣י צַ֭דִּיק יִרְע֣וּ רַבִּ֑ים וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים בַּחֲסַר־לֵ֥ב יָמֽוּתוּ׃

   sif-TE tsa-DIK yir-E-u ra-BIM ve-e-VI-lim ba-kha-SAR-LEV ya-MU-tu

   lips of a righteous one they feed many but fools in lack of heart they will die

Exegesis

The second clause begins with the adversative we'evilim {וֶאֱוִילִים | wə-ʾêwîlîm} ‘and fools’, continues with the causal phrase bachasar-lev {בַּחֲסַר־לֵב | baḥăṣār-lēḇ} ‘for lack of heart’, and concludes with yāmûtū {יָמֽוּתוּ | yāmûtū} ‘they die’. The metonymy of “lips” underscores the power of righteous speech, while “heart” denotes inner wisdom. The antithesis highlights the life-giving effect of righteous words versus the peril of cognitive deficiency.