| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb opens with the idiom yad le-yad {יָד לְיָד | yāḏ lə-yāḏ}, literally “hand-to-hand,” which conveys mutual cooperation. The verb phrase lo-yinnāqeh {לֹא־יִנָּ֣קֶה | lōʾ-yinnāqeh} uses a Nifal imperfect form with a prefixed lamed negation to assert that the wicked categorically will not be acquitted. The conjunction vav in ve-zer‘a {וְזֶ֖רַע | wə-zeraʿ} signals an antithetic parallelism, introducing the positive counterpart of the righteous’ offspring. Nimlāt {נִמְלָֽט | nimmālāṭ}, a Nifal perfect verb, marks completed action that guarantees the escape of the righteous’ seed. This tight parallel structure, balancing imperfect and perfect verbs, accentuates the moral contrast between inevitable judgment and assured deliverance. |