| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb features parallel clauses introduced by the verb tekholel {תְּח֣וֹלֵֽל | te-ḥō-lēl} ‘brings forth’, first applied to the noun phrase ruach tsafon {ר֣וּחַ צָ֭פוֹן | rū-aḥ ṣā-pōn} ‘north wind’ with object gashem {גָּ֑שֶׁם | gā-šem} ‘rain’, establishing a cause-and-effect sequence. The coordinating conjunction waw introduces the second clause, where the participle niz’amim {נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים | niz-ʿā-mîm} ‘are enraged’ describes the result of a secret tongue, leshon sater {לְשׁ֣וֹן סָֽתֶר | lə-šōn sā-ter}, in a mirrored causative relationship: concealed speech provokes an angry countenance. The preposition lamed marks the construct chain ‘tongue of secret’, indicating malicious intent. The English translation renders the Hebrew VSO order and parallel symmetry in SVO while preserving the causal logic. |