Proverbs 17:28:7Prov.17.28.W7TAB
שְׂפָתָ֣יו
sefatav
“his lips”
- Transliteration
- se-fa-TAV
- Extended
- seh-fah-TAAV
- IPA
- /sə.faːˈt̪aːv/
Meaning by language
- English
- his lips
Hebrew · tap a syllable to hear it
Alphabet Analysis
| Shin | shin with right dot; sin with left dot | |
| Sheva | vocal sheva — a short 'e' (ə), begins a syllable | |
| Pe | p with dagesh; f without | |
| Qamets | long 'ah' | |
| Tav | t as in top | |
| Qamets | long 'ah' | |
| Yod | y as in yes; marks long ī | |
| Vav | v as in vine; marks long ō / ū |
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The word
Word in context
- word
se-fa-TAV
- phraseyour reading level
se-fa-TAV na-VON
- clause
o-TEM se-fa-TAV na-VON
- sentence
GAM e-VIL ma-kha-ri-SH kha-KHAM ye-kha-SHEV o-TEM se-fa-TAV na-VON
Exegesis
The second clause mirrors this: the Qal participle ōṯēm {אֹטֵ֖ם | ʾōṯēm} “shutting” with his lips (səp̄ātāv {שְׂפָתָ֣יו | səp̄ātāv}) yields nāḇôn {נָבֽוֹן | nāḇôn} “discerning.” The parallel participial structures highlight how restraint in speech produces an appearance of wisdom.
Root and etymology
Rootp–t–t
“to break, share”
In context — Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise , and one who closes his lips is regarded as discerning .
About this coordinate
Proverbs 17:28:7 is a BCV:P reference — Book · Chapter · Verse · Word Position. It addresses word 7 of Proverbs 17:28, so the Hebrew word שְׂפָתָ֣יו (sefatav) can be cited, linked and studied at exactly this position rather than somewhere in the verse. In the Biblical Knowledge Coordinate System the same position is written Prov.17.28.W7, which extends further down to each syllable (Prov.17.28.W7.S1) and character.