מוּסָֽר׃

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 מוּסָֽר׃

   mu-SAR

   of discipline
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 תּוֹכְח֥וֹת מוּסָֽר׃

   to-khe-KHOT mu-SAR

   reproofs of discipline
3. clause🔊 וְדֶ֥רֶךְ חַ֝יִּ֗ים תּוֹכְח֥וֹת מוּסָֽר׃

   ve-DE-rekh kha-YIM to-khe-KHOT mu-SAR

   and way of life reproofs of discipline
4. sentence🔊 כִּ֤י נֵ֣ר מִ֭צְוָה וְת֣וֹרָה א֑וֹר וְדֶ֥רֶךְ חַ֝יִּ֗ים תּוֹכְח֥וֹת מוּסָֽר׃

   KI NER mits-VA ve-to-RA OR ve-DE-rekh kha-YIM to-khe-KHOT mu-SAR

   for a lamp commandment and instruction light and way of life reproofs of discipline

Exegesis

The paratactic vav {וְ | wə} introduces the construct de-rekh hayyim tochchot musar {דֶרֶךְ חַיִּים תּוֹכְחוֹת מוּסָר | de-rekh ḥay-yîm toḵ-ḥōṯ mū-sār}, portraying the path of life as formed by disciplined reproofs. English renders Hebrew constructs with genitive syntax (“reproofs of discipline”) or prepositional syntax (“rebukes from discipline”), and the metaphorical imagery extends as “lamp for your path” (formal) versus “lamp for your steps” (dynamic), with “road of life” (formal) contrasted with “way of life” (dynamic) to underscore directional nuance.

Root and etymology

י־ס־ר🔊 yod–samekh–resh

“to discipline, chastise”

• 🔊 יָסַרyāsarhe disciplinedProverbs 29:19