| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb employs a simile introduced by ke {כְּ | kə} ‘as/like’ to set up parallel clauses. In the first clause the feminine noun ṣip̄pōr {צִפּוֹר | ṣip̄pōr} takes the participle nô-ḏe-ḏeṯ {נוֹדֶדֶת | nô-ḏe-ḏeṯ} and the prepositional phrase min-qinnāh {מִן־קִנָּהּ | min-qinnāh} ‘from her nest’. The resumptive kên {כֵּן | kên} ‘so’ introduces the second clause with ʾîš {אִישׁ | ʾîš}, its participle nôḏēḏ {נוֹדֵד | nô-ḏēḏ}, and mimməqômō {מִמְּקוֹמוֹ | mim-me-qō-mō} ‘from his place’. The use of maqqef between min and qinnāh and between kên and ʾîš links these elements tightly, reinforcing the balanced structure and underscoring the theme of displacement. |