| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the conditional particle im {אִם | ʾim} marking a protasis, followed by the infinitive absolute–imperfect pair anneh {עַנֵּה | ʿannē} and teanneh {תְעַנֶּה | təʿannēh}, which intensify the prohibition. The direct object marker oto {אֹתוֹ | ʾōtō} specifies the one oppressed. The conjunction ki {כִּי | kī} introduces the apodosis, which opens with the emphatic infinitive absolute tsaok {צָעֹק | ṣāʿōq} and the imperfect yitsaq {יִצְעַק | yiṣʿaq}. The prepositional phrase elai {אֵלַי | ʾēlāy} personalizes divine receptivity. The assurance clause uses the infinitive absolute shamoa {שָׁמֹעַ | šāmōaʿ} with the imperfect eshmaa {אֶשְׁמַע | ʾešmaʿ}, conveying guaranteed response. The noun tsaaqato {צַעֲקָתוֹ | ṣaʿaqātô} frames the distress call. Though the Hebrew uses singular pronouns (oto, tsaaqato), they refer to the collective vulnerable group, thereby rendered as plural in the translation. |