כָּל־יְמֵ֣י רָ֭שָׁע ה֣וּא מִתְחוֹלֵ֑ל וּמִסְפַּ֥ר שָׁ֝נִ֗ים נִצְפְּנ֥וּ לֶעָרִֽיץ׃
Sa lahat ng araw ng masama ay nanginginig siya sa paghihirap, sa buong bilang ng mga taon na nakalaan para sa malupit.
Kli Yakar
Another explanation: These two types of guarding refer to positive and negative commandments, through which one guards all the limbs and sinews upon which the human body is established. For our Sages have already said (Zohar Vayishlach 170b) that the 248 positive commandments correspond to the 248 limbs, and the 365 negative commandments correspond to the 365 sinews in a person. Regarding this it is said (Ecclesiastes 12:13), Fear God — this refers to negative commandments, and observe His commandments — this refers to positive commandments, for this is the whole of man — corresponding to the number of his limbs and sinews. They further stated that all the days of the wicked, he is “mitcholel” [tormented] — meaning he becomes a “met chalal” [a dead corpse], because with each transgression he damages one of his limbs or one of his sinews.
It seems to me that there is a distinction between the term “chalal” [corpse] and “met” [dead], similar to the difference between positive and negative commandments. For “met” implies dying on its own, while “chalal” implies being killed by direct action. One who transgresses a positive commandment does so passively [by sitting and not acting], thus damaging a limb and causing it to die on its own. But one who transgresses a negative commandment through active violation is as if he directly kills one of his sinews, making it “chalal” [hollowed] and emptied of the blood within it — and the blood is the soul. The negation even of a single sinew is more dangerous than the death of a single limb. This is why the Torah is stricter in punishing one who transgresses a negative commandment than one who neglects a positive commandment, because damage to the sinews is more dangerous than damage to a limb.
Regarding this, the verse says Only guard yourself — this refers to guarding one’s limbs, which are the essence of a person, and their preservation depends on observing the positive commandments. And guard your soul very much — this refers to guarding the sinews, because the blood is the soul and requires great protection, which is why it says very much. This protection is achieved through the negative commandments. And this is a correct explanation.
It seems to me that there is a distinction between the term “chalal” [corpse] and “met” [dead], similar to the difference between positive and negative commandments. For “met” implies dying on its own, while “chalal” implies being killed by direct action. One who transgresses a positive commandment does so passively [by sitting and not acting], thus damaging a limb and causing it to die on its own. But one who transgresses a negative commandment through active violation is as if he directly kills one of his sinews, making it “chalal” [hollowed] and emptied of the blood within it — and the blood is the soul. The negation even of a single sinew is more dangerous than the death of a single limb. This is why the Torah is stricter in punishing one who transgresses a negative commandment than one who neglects a positive commandment, because damage to the sinews is more dangerous than damage to a limb.
Regarding this, the verse says Only guard yourself — this refers to guarding one’s limbs, which are the essence of a person, and their preservation depends on observing the positive commandments. And guard your soul very much — this refers to guarding the sinews, because the blood is the soul and requires great protection, which is why it says very much. This protection is achieved through the negative commandments. And this is a correct explanation.