| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with veger {וְגֵר | vә-ger}, linking the statute’s subject to the outsider. The paired negatives lo {לֹא | lōʾ} + toneh {תֹּנֶה | tō-neh} (Piel imperfect) and velo {וְלֹא | vә-lōʾ} + tilhatsennu {תִּלְחָצֶנּוּ | tə-lə-ḥā-ṣě-nû} (Qal imperfect) form a reinforced prohibition against both exploitative and coercive actions. The conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} introduces the causal clause gerim heyitem {גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם | gē-rîm hə-yî-ṯēm}, evoking Israel’s former status. The locative phrase beerets mitsrayim {בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם | bə-ʾe-reṣ miṣ-rā-yim} provides the geographic memory that grounds the ethical command. |