Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Sforno · Torah
Sforno on Exodus 22:21/ספורנו על שמות כ״ב:כ״א
אלֹא תְעַנּוּן. אִם עַנֵּה תְעַנֶּה אוֹתוֹ, אִם כְּשֶׁתְּעַנֶּה אֶת הַיָּתוֹם תִּהְיֶה כַּוָּנָתְךָ לְעַנּוֹתוֹ בִּלְבַד; אֲבָל אִם תְּעַנֶּהוּ לְיַסְּרוֹ וּלְהֵיטִיב לוֹ, אֵין זֶה אֶלָּא גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים.
1לא תענון אם ענה תענה אותו; if, in the process of oppressing an orphan your intention was only to oppress him alone; if your “oppressing” him was in the nature of disciplining him in order to ultimately bestowing loving kindness on him after he responded to your rebuking him, your disciplining him is considered an act of loving kindness. [the author interprets verse 22 starting with the word אם as an alternative, moderating what has been written in verse 21. Ed.]