| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse employs intensifying parallelism through two paired imperatives. The Qal imperative keneh {קְנֵ֣ה | qĕnēh} ‘acquire’ governs chokhmah {חָ֭כְמָה | ḥāḵmāh} ‘wisdom’ and binah {בִינָ֑ה | bināh} ‘understanding’, underscoring their complementary value. The prohibitions al-tishkach {אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח | ʾal-tiškāḥ} ‘do not forget’ and ve-al-tet {וְאַל־תֵּ֝֗ט | wə-ʾal-tēṭ} ‘and do not turn aside’ create a progressive warning. The construct meimrei-pi {מֵֽאִמְרֵי־פִֽי | mêʾimrê-pî}, using preposition min plus a noun plural construct with suffix, specifies the source of instruction. English preserves the parallel structure and the emphatic repetition of commands and prohibitions. |