Proverbs 23:2:4Prov.23.2.W4TAB
אִם־בַּ֖עַל
imbaal
“if a possessor”
- Transliteration
- im-BA-al
- Extended
- ihm-BAH-AAL
- IPA
- /ʔimˈbaːʕal/
Meaning by language
- English
- if a possessor
Hebrew · tap a syllable to hear it
Alphabet Analysis
| Aleph | silent — a glottal stop; holds vowel points | |
| Hireq | 'ee' as in machine | |
| Mem Sofit | final form of Mem — at word end | |
| Bet | b with dagesh; v without dagesh | |
| Patach | short 'ah' as in father | |
| Ayin | deep guttural stop, voiced pharyngeal | |
| Patach | short 'ah' as in father | |
| Lamed | l as in law |
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The word
Word in context
- word
im-BA-al
- clause
im-BA-al NE-fesh A-ta
- sentence
ve-sa-me-TA sa-KIN be-LO-E-KHA im-BA-al NE-fesh A-ta
Exegesis
The conditional particle im {אִם | ʾim} introduces a protasis with the nominal clause baal nefesh {בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ | ba-ʿal ne-pheš} “master of appetite,” and the independent pronoun atah {אָתָּה | ʾat-tā} emphasizes the subject. The Hebrew hyperbole of placing a weapon at the throat intensifies the warning typical of wisdom literature. English renders the conditional relationship explicitly and preserves the stark metaphor.
Root and etymology
Bet–Ayin–Lamedbet–ayin–lamed
“master, owner”
In context — Proverbs 23:2
And you must put a knife to your throat if you are a master of appetite .
About this coordinate
Proverbs 23:2:4 is a BCV:P reference — Book · Chapter · Verse · Word Position. It addresses word 4 of Proverbs 23:2, so the Hebrew word אִם־בַּ֖עַל (imbaal) 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.23.2.W4, which extends further down to each syllable (Prov.23.2.W4.S1) and character.