| 30. Linguistic Exegesis The construct phrase me’or-einayim {מְאוֹר־עֵינַיִם | mə-ʾôr ʿê-nā-yim} ‘light of the eyes’ links radiance and vision, functioning as the subject. The piel imperfect yesammach {יְשַׂמַּֽח | yә-sam-maḥ} ‘makes rejoice’ governs lev {לֵב | lēv} ‘heart,’ yielding the first clause. In the parallel clause, shemuah tovah {שְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה | šĕ-mu-ʿāh ṭō-vāh} ‘good report’ serves as nominal subject of the piel imperfect tedashen {תְּדַשֶּׁן | tə-ḏa-šên} ‘makes fat,’ with atzem {עָצֶם | ʿā-ṣem} ‘bone’ as the object. The chiastic pairing of sensory delight and positive information underscores their parallel outcomes on inner wellbeing and structural strength. |