| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb opens with a simile introduced by “like,” linking two vivid participial clauses. The Hiphil participle maḥăzîq {מַחֲזִּיק | maḥăzîq} ‘one who grips’ governs the construct chain be-oznei kelev {בְּאָזְנֵי־כָלֶב | bə-ʾoznêy ka-lev} ‘the ears of a dog,’ highlighting physical vulnerability. The second clause combines the Qal participle ʿōvēr {עֹבֵר | ʿōvēr} with the reflexive Hitpael mit-ʿabbēr {מִתְעַבֵּ֗ר | mit-ʿabbēr} ‘who becomes enraged,’ conveying self-generated anger. The prepositional phrase al-riv {עַל־רִ֥יב | ʿal-rîv} ‘over a quarrel’ marks the point of contention, while the doubled negative lo lo {לֹא־לוֹ | lōʾ lō} ‘not to him’ underscores lack of rightful stake. The English preserves the stark parallelism and abrupt pacing by rendering the Hebrew participles as dynamic idioms. |