| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs the prohibitive + infinitive form al-ta’an {אַל־תַּ֣עַן | ʾal-taʿăn} ‘do not answer’ to issue a direct warning. The noun kesil {כְּ֭סִיל | kesîl} ‘fool’ functions as the object of engagement. The comparative phrase keivvalto {כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ | kə-ʾiv-val-tô} ‘like his folly’ uses the preposition kə with a construct noun and pronominal suffix to specify manner. The negative purpose clause pen-tishveh-lo {פֶּֽן־תִּשְׁוֶה־לּ֥וֹ | pen-tiš-wēh-lô} ‘lest you become like him’ indicates the undesirable consequence. The emphatic gam-attah {גַּ֥ם־אָֽתָּה | gam-ʾaṭ-tāh} ‘also you’ underscores that the warning applies to the speaker. This sequence of prohibition, characterization of method, and outcome highlights the proverb’s teaching on restraint. |