Vayeira 18:12 · unit 2

וַתִּצְחַ֥ק שָׂרָ֖ה בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּ לֵאמֹ֑ר אַחֲרֵ֤י בְלֹתִי֙ הָֽיְתָה־לִּ֣י עֶדְנָ֔ה וַֽאדֹנִ֖י זָקֵֽן׃

And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have withered, shall I have pleasure, and my lord is old?”

Source Citation

אַחֲרֵי בְלֹתִי וגו'. אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא, אַחֲרֵי בְלֹתִי הָיְתָה לִי עֶדְנָה; אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְבַּלָּה הַבָּשָׂר וְרַבּוּ הַקְּמָטִין, נִתְעַדֵּן הַבָּשָׂר וְנִתְפַּשְּׁטוּ הַקְּמָטִין וְחָזַר יֹפִי לִמְקוֹמוֹ.

“After I have withered…” Rav Chisda said: “After I have withered, shall I have pleasure”—after the flesh had withered and the wrinkles had multiplied, the flesh was rejuvenated, the wrinkles smoothed out, and beauty returned to its place.

On the daf / in context: The phrase is read as a statement of wonder at the physical restoration that accompanied the promise of a child in old age.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The words are taken to describe an actual physical rejuvenation.

What Is Learned

Sarah’s body was restored to youthful beauty after the announcement: the withered flesh was renewed and the wrinkles disappeared.

Vayeira 18:12 · unit 2

The Complete Passuk

Source Citation

Type of Learning

What Is Learned