| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the prohibitive particle lo {לֹא | lō} plus the Qal imperfect verb tisna {תִשְׂנָא | tiś-nāʼ}, creating an internal prohibition against hating one’s brother aḥîkha {אָחִיךָ | ʾaḥî-ḵā} in bilvavekha {בִּלְבָבֶךָ | bil-vā-vé-kā}. The Hiphil infinitive absolute hokeakh {הוֹכֵחַ | hô-kē-aḥ} followed by the Hiphil imperfect tokhiakh {תּוֹכִיחַ | tô-khî-aḥ} forms an intensifying construction that mandates rebuke of amitekha {עֲמִיתֶךָ | ʿă-mî-ṯé-ḵā}. The conjunction ve-lō {וְלֹא־ | wə-lō} plus Qal imperfect tissa {תִשָּׂא | tiś-sāʼ} with ʿalav {עָלָיו | ʿā-lāy-w} and ḥēt {חֵטְא | ḥê-ṭāʼ} signals the consequence of failing to rebuke—bearing sin oneself—emphasizing communal accountability and emotional integrity. |