| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb begins with the noun ivvelet {אִוֶּלֶת | ʾîwwelet} “folly” modified by the passive participle kesurah {קְשׁוּרָה | qəšûrâ} “is tied/fastened,” creating a stative expression. The construct phrase belev-naʿar {בְּלֶב־נָעַר | bə-leḇ-nāʿar} “in the heart of a youth” localizes the folly within the innermost being of the young person. In the second clause the construct shevet musar {שֵׁבֶט מוּסָר | šēḇeṭ mūṣār} “rod of discipline” portrays an external corrective tool, governed by the hiphil imperfect verb yarḥîqennāh {יַרְחִיקֶנָּה | yarḥîqennāh} “will drive it far,” which expresses causative expulsion. The pronominal suffix in mimmenû {מִמֶּנּוּ | mimmenû} “from him” completes the action. This parallel structure in Hebrew—stating an inherent problem and its remedy—is preserved through coordinated English clauses. |