| 3. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the causal conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} ‘for’, linking this personal reflection to the preceding counsel. The verb hayiti {הָיִיתִי | hā-yi-tî} ‘I was’ introduces the speaker’s identity, with ben {בֵן | bēn} ‘son’ as a predicate nominative. The adjectives rakh {רַךְ | rā-ḥ} ‘tender’ and yakhid {יָחִיד | yă-ḥîd} ‘only’ form a parallelism underscoring both gentleness and singularity. Finally, the preposition lifnei {לִפְנֵי | li-pə-nê} ‘before’ followed by immi {אִמִּי | ʾim-mî} ‘my mother’ frames the statement within maternal perception, emphasizing affective intimacy. |