| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the substantive participle hannechemadim {הַנֶּחֱמָדִים | han-ne-ḥĕ-mā-dîm} ‘the desirable ones’, recalling the statutes in view. The comparative particle min {מִן | min} ‘than’ governs mizahav {מִזָּהָב | mî-zā-hāv} ‘gold’ and mipaz {מִפַּז | mi-paz} ‘pure gold’, with rav {רָב | rāḇ} ‘much’ intensifying in synonymous parallelism. The coordinating vav introduces a parallel clause where umetukim {וּמְתוּקִים | mə-tû-qîm} ‘sweeter’ pairs with midvash {מִדְּבַשׁ | mid-də-ḇāš} ‘honey’ and the construct venofet tzufim {וְנֹפֶת צוּפִים | wə-nō-p̄eṯ tzu-fîm} ‘dripping of combs’. This parallel and chiastic structure underscores the supreme worth of the Law. English renders more…than and sweeter…than to mirror Hebrew comparison, and preserves dripping of combs to retain the vivid metaphor. |