Mishlei 22-18
Wisdom – Elucidation
Key Concepts
In the second lesson for acquiring wisdom, Mishlei speaks of the reinforcement of learned wisdom through active elucidation, that is, through dynamic review of the material by continually talking about it with fellow students. The pleasure one gets from lively verbal expression serves to protect the integrity of the learned wisdom. In the course of a lively verbal interchange the students deepen their understanding and insight into the wisdom they have previously acquired.
Exploring Mishlei
כִּי נָעִים כִּי תִשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ יִכֹּנוּ יַחְדָּו עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ
(18) For it is pleasant if you guard them in your innards
and establish them together upon your lips
Mishlei teaches that the pleasure one gets from recreating the ideas of wisdom in one’s own words, strengthens the bond between the Torah and those who learn it.
Learning Mishlei
(18) For it is pleasant — כִּי נָעִים
if you guard them in your innards — כִּי תִשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ
and establish them together — יִכֹּנוּ יַחְדָּו
upon your lips — עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ.
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