| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the vocative beni {בְּנִי | bĕ-nî} ‘my son’, signaling a direct parental address. The noun torati {תּוֹרָתִי | tôr-ā-tî} ‘my teaching’ functions as the object of the prohibition formed by the negative particle al {אַל | ʾal} ‘do not’ plus the jussive verb tishkach {תִּשְׁכָּח | tiš-kā-ḥ} ‘forget’. The coordinating conjunction u {וּ | û} ‘and’ introduces a parallel jussive clause with yitzor {יִצֹּר | yiṣ-ṣôr} ‘let guard’, establishing a balanced double-imperative. In this second clause, mitzvotai {וּמִצְוֺתַי | û-mîṣ-vō-ṯay} ‘my commandments’ precedes the locative phrase libecha {לִבֶּךָ | lī̆-bê-ḵā} ‘in your heart’, emphasizing internalization of the commands. |