וּמֶ֥תֶק

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 וּמֶ֥תֶק

   u-ME-tek

   and sweetness
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם

   u-ME-tek se-fa-TA-yim

   and sweetness of lips
3. clause🔊 וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃

   u-ME-tek se-fa-TA-yim yo-SIF LE-kakh

   and sweetness of lips he adds learning
4. sentence🔊 לַחֲכַם־לֵ֭ב יִקָּרֵ֣א נָב֑וֹן וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃

   la-kha-KHAM-LEV yik-ka-RE na-VON u-ME-tek se-fa-TA-yim yo-SIF LE-kakh

   to a wise one of heart he will be called discerning and sweetness of lips he adds learning

Exegesis

In the parallel second clause, the coordinated noun phrase ū-měteq sefatayim {וּמֶתֶק שְׂפָתַיִם | ū-měteq səp̄āṯayim} ‘and sweetness of lips’ serves as the subject, with yôsîp̄ {יֹסִיף | yôsîp̄} ‘will increase’ governing the object lĕqaḥ {לֶקַח | lĕqaḥ} ‘learning.’ The couplet’s parallelism—first on inner character, then on speech—emphasizes that both discretion in heart and gracious communication yield valuable insight.

Root and etymology

m-t-q🔊 מ־ת־קMem–Tav–Qoph

“sweetness”

• 🔊 מְתֻקִיםmuteqpleasantSong of Solomon 4:11