Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 15:8/אבן עזרא על דברים ט״ו:ח׳
אפתח תפתח. שם הפעל וכל מקום שאיננו כתוב הוא דרך קצרה גם הדרש יפה:
1BUT THOU SHALT SURELY OPEN THY HAND. Pato’ach (open) is an infinitive. Whenever Scripture omits the infinitive,25. it is employing an abridged style. The midrashic interpretation is also beautiful.26 (thou shalt surely open) indicates that one should open his hand to the poor even one hundred times. However, I.E. believes that the form pato’ach tiftach is the correct way to say you shall open.
באת ידך לו. לאשר אין לו כלום:
2OPEN THY HAND TO HIM. To the one who has nothing.
גוהעבט תעביטנו. תתן לו משלך על עבוטו והנה תעביטנו תקח עבוטו:
3AND SHALT SURELY LEND HIM. The meaning of veha’avet tavitennu (and shalt surely lend him) is, give him from yours by taking his pledge.27 Tavitennu means take his pledge.