| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with chakam {חָכָ֣ם | ḥā-kām} ‘wise’ juxtaposed with atzel {עָצֵ֣ל | ‘ā-ṣēl} ‘sluggard’, creating an ironic pair. The reflexive phrase be-einav {בְּעֵינָ֑יו | bə-ʿē-nāw} ‘in his own eyes’ frames the sluggard’s subjective self-assessment. The comparative mî-shivah {מִ֝שִּׁבְעָ֗ה | mî-šî-‘āh} ‘more than seven’ introduces a contrast with the construct chain meshivei {מְשִׁ֣יבֵי | mə-šî-ṿê} ‘those who reply’ + taam {טָֽעַם | ṭā-‘am} ‘reason’, highlighting the folly of overestimating one’s wisdom against genuine counsel. |