| 13. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the prohibitive particle al {אַל־ | ’al} ‘do not’ plus the Qal imperfect te’ehav {תֶּֽאֱהַב | tĕ’ĕhăv} ‘you love’, forming a negative jussive. The noun sheinah {שֵׁנָה | šēnāh} ‘sleep’ functions as the direct object. The conjunction pen {פֶּן־ | pen} ‘lest’ introduces a negative result clause with the Niphal imperfect tivvaresh {תִּוָּרֵ֑שׁ | tivvāreš} ‘you become poor’, marking the undesired outcome. This is followed by the imperative peqach {פְּקַח | pəqāḥ} ‘open!’ which takes the noun einecha {עֵינֶיךָ | ʿēyneḵā} ‘your eyes’ as its object, commanding alertness. The imperfect seva {שְׂבַע | səḇaʿ} ‘you will be satisfied’ then introduces the positive result clause, with the prepositional phrase lachem {לָֽחֶם | lāḥem} ‘with bread’ specifying the provision. The sequence warning–command–promise creates a balanced structure linking idleness with poverty and vigilance with sustenance. |