While checking SQL syntax itself is somewhat straightforward, [Joe]’s sql-lint tool will also check the semantics of it by looking up the actual database and performing sanity checks on it.

The EXECUTE statement sends dynamic non-query, DBMS-specific SQL statements to the DBMS and processes those statements. In some SAS/ACCESS interfaces, you can issue an EXECUTE statement directly ...

FROM statement using source data that's known to have flaws. Back to the OP - either filter out the bad records in the WHERE clause, or put a CASE statement in the UPDATE list. No need for a cursor.

The CONNECT statement establishes a connection with the DBMS. You establish a connection to send DBMS-specific SQL statements to the DBMS or to retrieve DBMS data. The connection remains in effect ...