| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the negative imperative al-timna {אַל־תִּמְנַע | ʾal-tim-nāʿ} ‘do not withhold’, establishing a direct prohibition. The phrase min-naar {מִנַּעַר | min-nāʿar} ‘from a youth’ identifies the beneficiary. The substantive musar {מוּסָר | mū-sār} ‘discipline’ implies formative correction. The conjunction kî {כִּי | kî} ‘for’ introduces a conditional protasis with takkennu {תַכֶּנּוּ | tak-ken-nû} ‘you strike him’ followed by bashevet {בַשֵּׁבֶט | baš-še-vēt} ‘with the rod’. The particle lo {לֹא | lōʾ} negates yamut {יָמֽוּת | yā-mūṯ} ‘he will die’, creating a parallel between the prohibition and its reassuring outcome. This chiastic structure underscores that appropriate correction does not bring death but fosters discipline. |