| 26. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the conditional particle im {אִם | ʾim} introducing a legal stipulation. The infinitive absolute chabol {חָבֹל | ḥā-bōl} combined with the imperfect tachbol {תַּחְבֹּל | ṭaḥ-bōl} intensifies the obligation concerning pledges. The construct phrase salmat re’ekha {שַׂלְמַת רֵעֶךָ | śal-maṯ rê-ʿe-ḵā} conveys “garment of your neighbor,” marking possession in a covenant community. The temporal clause ad bo ha-shemesh {עַד־בּוֹא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ | ʿad bōʾ ha-šê-meš} sets an evening deadline idiomatically tied to sunset. The apodosis uses the Hiphil imperfect teshivennu {תְּשִׁיבֶנּוּ | tə-šî-ḇê-nnû} to mandate restitution, with lo {לוֹ | lōʾ} specifying the recipient. |