| 28. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the negative particle lo {לֹא | lōʾ} ‘not,’ introducing the first prohibition expressed by the Piel imperfect verb teqalel {תְקַלֵּל | tə-qal-lel} ‘you shall curse.’ The conjunction vav in wə-nā-sîʾ {וְנָשִׂיא | wə-nā-sîʾ} ‘and ruler’ introduces the second parallel prohibition, which likewise begins with lo {לֹא | lōʾ} ‘not’ followed by the Qal imperfect taor {תָאֹר | ṯā-ʾôr} ‘you shall curse.’ This paratactic construction yields two balanced legal injunctions. The noun elohim {אֱלֹהִים | ʾĕ-lō-hîm} ‘God,’ though plural in form, functions as a singular divine title, reinforcing monotheistic unity. The construct phrase be-ʿam-mə-ḵā {בְּעַמְּךָ | bə-ʿam-mə-ḵā} ‘among your people’ localizes the second command within the communal setting. The English rendering preserves the repetitive “you shall not … and you shall not …” pattern to maintain legal parallelism and emphasis. |