| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with ben {בֵּן | bēn} ‘son’, followed by the attributive adjective khakham {חָכָם | ḥā-kham} ‘wise’, forming a descriptive epithet. The noun phrase musar av {מוּסַר אָב | mū-sar ʾāv} ‘father’s instruction’ functions as direct object of the implied listening. The conjunction wə-lets {וְלֵץ | wə-lêts} ‘and a scoffer’ introduces the antithetic parallel, culminating in the negative nominal clause lō-šā-ma‘ gə-‘ā-rāh {לֹא־שָׁמַע גְּעָרָה | lō-šā-ma‘ gə-‘ā-rāh} ‘does not hear rebuke.’ This chiastic antithesis underscores the contrast between the receptive and the resistant. |