| 18. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb begins with the existential particle yesh {יֵשׁ | yē-š} introducing a general truth, followed by the participle boteh {בֹּטֶה | bō-ṯē}, which typifies a speaker demonstrating rash speech. The simile ke-madkerot cherev {כְּמַדְקְר֣וֹת חָ֑רֶב | kə-mad-ker-ōṯ ḥā-rev} uses the preposition kə (“like”) to compare hasty words to piercing sword wounds. The coordinating conjunction w- establishes the contrast, where leshon chakhamim {וּלְשׁ֖וֹן חֲכָמִ֣ים | wŭ-le-šōn ḥa-kha-mīm} functions as subject and marpe {מַרְפֵּֽא | mar-pe} as predicate in a parallel structure that underscores harmful versus beneficial speech. |