| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The proverb uses two parallel prohibitions introduced by the negative particle al {אַל | ʾal} ‘do not’, each governing a jussive verb ta-vo {תָּבֹא | tā-ḇōʾ} ‘enter’ and te-asher {תְּאַשֵּׁר | tə-ʾăš-šēr} ‘proceed’. These are followed by prepositional phrases be-orach {בְּאֹרַח | bə-ʾō-rāḥ} ‘path’ with the noun resha’im {רְשָׁעִים | rə-šā-ʿîm} ‘wicked ones’, and be-derekh {בְּדֶרֶךְ | bə-de-reḵ} ‘way’ with ra’im {רָעִים | rā-ʿîm} ‘evil ones’, forming synonymous parallelism to reinforce the warning. The shift to the Piel imperfect in te-asher indicates intensified, purposeful continuation. Translating “enter” and “proceed” preserves the Hebrew’s sense of deliberate movement while maintaining the verse’s balanced structure. |