| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with two prohibitions, al {אַל | ʾal} ’do not’, framing parallel imperatives. The Hiphil imperfect verb tasseg {תַּסֵּג | taśśēg} ’you move’ in second person masculine singular forbids relocating gevul {גְּבוּל | gəvûl} ’boundary’. The qualifier olam {עוֹלָם | ʿô-lām} ’ancient’ marks a long-established marker. The construct chain uvisdei yetomim {וּבִשְׂדֵ֥י יְתוֹמִ֗ים | wə-viš-dê yĕ-tō-mîm} ’in the fields of orphans’ consists of vav conjunction + preposition + noun in construct + noun in absolute specifying another object. The second prohibition restates al {אַל | ʾal} ’do not’ with the Qal imperfect verb tavo {תָּבֹא | tā-vō} ’you enter’. Hebrew noun-adjective order (gevul olam) is rendered as “ancient boundary” for natural English order. The parallel structure and repeated negative emphasize legal and ethical requirements to respect property rights and protect the vulnerable. |