| 6. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the quantifier rabbim {רַבִּים | rab-bîm} ‘many’ as subject, followed by the verb yechallu {יְחַלּוּ | ye-ḵal-lû} ‘seek favor’ in the piel imperfect taking the construct chain penei-nadiv {פְנֵי־נָדִיב | pə-nê nā-dîw} ‘face of a generous one’ as its object. A vav-conjunction introduces the second clause, where kol-harea {וְכָל־הָרֵעַ | wə-kol hā-rê-ʿaʿ} ‘and every friend’ functions as the subject and the prepositional phrase le-ʼish mattan {לְאִישׁ מַתָּן | lə-ʼîš mat-tān} ‘to a man of gift’ expresses affiliation. The parallel structure underscores the social principle that generosity breeds personal connections, preserved by rendering ‘seek the favor of’ and ‘is a friend to.’ |