| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs synonymous parallelism by pairing rabot {רַבּ֣וֹת | rab-bōṯ} ‘many’ with maḥăš-šā-vōṯ {מַחֲשָׁב֣וֹת | maḥăš-šā-vōṯ} ‘thoughts, plans’ in the construct phrase belevish {בְּלֶב־אִ֑ישׁ | bə-lev-ʾîš} ‘in the heart of a man.’ The adversative waw prefixed to atzat yehovah {וַעֲצַת יְ֝הוָ֗ה | wā-ʿăṣ-šāṯ yə-hō-wāh} ‘but counsel of the LORD’ introduces a contrast between transient human intention and enduring divine purpose. The pronoun hi {הִ֣יא | hîʾ} resumes the preceding clause, and the Qal imperfect takum {תָקֽוּם | tă-qûm} indicates the assured establishment of that counsel. This structure emphasizes the superiority of divine counsel over human planning. |