Sirach 40,18-27 as 'Ṭôb-Spruch'

Although the series of comparisons that make up Sirach 40,18-27 are often characterized as 'better-than' proverbs or ṭôb-Sprüche, they do not convey a generic idea of degree, but rather express the superiority of items in the specific context of verbs' semantic fields. This construction emphasizes the tangible benefit of the 'superior' elements, a nuance that the more typical ṭôb-Sprüche would not express. In addition, Ben Sira describes each superior item as unambiguously virtuous, implying a connection between righteous behavior and a joyous, satisfying and successful life.