| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The verse features two parallel statements. It begins with nagid {נָגִיד | nā-ḡîḏ} ‘leader’, followed by a participial clause khasar tevunot {חֲסַר תְּבוּנוֹת | ḥă-sār te-vu-nôṯ} ‘lacking insight’, indicating a deficiency that leads to oppression. The conjunction ve-rav {וְרַב | wə-rāḇ} ‘and much’ intensifies maʿashaqot {מַעֲשַׁקּוֹת | ma-ʿa-šaqqôṯ} ‘extortions’. A contrastive waw introduces the second statement with sone beṣaʿ {שֹׂנֵא בֶצַע | sō-nê be-ṣaʿ} ‘one who hates gain’. The verb yaʾarikh {יַאֲרִיךְ | ya-ʾa-rîḵ} conveys causative force, linking this ethical stance to yamim {יָמִים | yā-mîm} ‘days’. The chiastic balance underscores the moral contrast between injustice and righteous living. |