| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb begins with the conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} introducing a concessive clause, marked by the Piel imperfect yechanen {יְחַנֵּן | yə-ḥannên} with qolo {ק֭וֹלוֹ | qôlô} as its object, “he speaks graciously with his voice.” This is countered by the negative imperative al-taʾămên-bô {אַל־תַּאֲמֶן־בּוֹ | al-taʾămên-bô}, “do not believe him,” where bo marks the person distrusted. A second ki introduces the causal clause specifying sheva tôʿevôt {שֶׁבַע תּוֹעֵבוֹת | šeḇaʿ tôʿevôt} “seven abominations,” with belibo {בְּלִבּוֹ | bə-lî-bô} “in his heart.” The antithetic parallelism contrasts deceptive speech with hidden moral corruption, a rhetorical hallmark of Hebrew wisdom literature. |