| 28. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the prepositional phrase be’orach {בְּאֹֽרַח | bə-’ō-raḥ} ‘in the path’, linked by construct to tsedaqah {צְדָקָה | ṣə-dā-qāh} ‘righteousness’, forming a phrase of ethical direction. The noun chayyim {חַיִּים | ḥay-yîm} ‘life’ functions as the predicate, highlighting the outcome of this path. The conjunction ve’derekh {וְדֶרֶךְ | wə-de-rekh} ‘and way’ introduces netivah {נְתִיבָה | nə-tî-vāh} ‘pathway’, creating parallelism. The particle al {אַל | al} ‘no/not’ prefixed to mavet {מָוֶת | mā-vet} ‘death’ forms al-mavet {אַל־מָוֶת | al-mā-vet} ‘no death’, a strong negation that contrasts life and death. This balanced structure underscores the certainty of life for the righteous. |