| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The verse frames a pattern of refraining and proactive duties to define the righteous individual. The clause ve’ish lo yōneh {וְאִישׁ לֹא יוֹנֶה | və-’îš lō yō-neh} “a man does not oppress” uses the Qal imperfect yō-neh to convey habitual action. The construct chain ḥăvōlāṯō ḥōv yāšîv {חֲבֹלָתוֹ חוֹב יָשִׁיב | ḥă-vō-lā-tō ḥōv yā-šîv} “his pledge of debt he restores” employs the Hiphil imperfect for active restitution. Two parallel negatives, gəzēlāh lō yigzōl {גְּזֵלָה לֹא יִגְזֹל | gə-zē-lāh lō yig-zōl}, reinforce the prohibition against theft. The positive clauses laḥmō lə-rā’ēv yi-ttēn {לַחְמוֹ לְרָעֵב יִתֵּן | laḥ-mō lə-rā-’ēv yi-ttēn} and və-’ê-rōm yəḵassēh ba-ḡēḏ {וְעֵירֹם יְכַסֶּה בָּגֶד | və-’ê-rōm yə-ḵas-sēh ba-ḡēḏ} “he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment” form a chiastic ethical structure. English reordering and the use of conjunctions preserve the Hebrew’s balanced flow while enhancing clarity. |