| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse consists of three coordinated prohibitions introduced by the negative particle lo {לֹא | lō} prefixed to each imperfect verb. The initial clause uses ta‘ăšōq {תַעֲשֹׁק | ta‘ăšōq} ‘you shall oppress’ with the direct object marker et {אֶת | ʾet} governing re'ekha {רֵעֲךָ | rē‘ăḵā} ‘your neighbor,’ highlighting personal economic injustice. The conjunction wə-lo {וְלֹא | wə-lō} links to the second prohibition tigzol {תִגְזֹל | tiḡẓōl} ‘you shall rob,’ emphasizing forcible taking. The final clause repeats the negative with talin {תָּלִין | tālîn} ‘you shall withhold’ followed by the construct pe'ullat sakhir {פְּעֻלַּת שָׂכִיר | pə‘ullat śāḵîr} ‘wages of a hired worker’ and the temporal phrase ittekha ad-boker {אִתְּךָ עַד־בֹּקֶר | ʾit·təḵā ʿaḏ bōqer} ‘with you until morning,’ imposing a clear deadline. The repetitive negatives and parallel structure reflect the emphatic style of Hebrew legal texts. |