| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The apodictic law syntax places the negative particle lo {לֹא | lōʾ} ‘not’ before the imperfect verb tignōḇ {תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב | ti·gnōḇ} ‘you steal,’ forming an absolute prohibition. The Qal imperfect second person masculine singular issues a timeless covenantal injunction. The fronted negation intensifies the command. English renderings mirror this structure with unambiguous negative imperatives—“shall not steal” in formal to reflect legal authority and “must not steal” in dynamic to emphasize moral obligation. |