Vayeira 22:9 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeira · Passuk 22:9

Supplementary classical material; Torah Temimah lists no citation under this passuk.

The Complete Passuk

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ אֶֽל־הַמָּקוֹם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽמַר־ל֣וֹ הָאֱלֹהִים֒ וַיִּ֨בֶן שָׁ֤ם אַבְרָהָם֙ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וַֽיַּעֲרֹ֖ךְ אֶת־הָעֵצִ֑ים וַֽיַּעֲקֹד֙ אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֔וֹ וַיָּ֤שֶׂם אֹתוֹ֙ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ מִמַּ֖עַל לָעֵצִֽים׃

They came to the place of which God had told him; Avraham built the altar there, arranged the wood, bound Yitzchak his son, and placed him on the altar atop the wood.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Rashi on Genesis 22:9 (citing Shabbat 54a).

Sefaria — Rashi on Genesis 22:9

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַיַּעֲקֹד. יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו מֵאֲחוֹרָיו; הַיָּדַיִם וְהָרַגְלַיִם בְּיַחַד הִיא עֲקֵדָה, וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן עֲקֻדִּים שֶׁהָיוּ קַרְסוּלֵיהֶם לְבָנִים, מָקוֹם שֶׁעוֹקְדִין אוֹתָן בּוֹ הָיָה נִכָּר.

English: “And he bound.” His hands and feet behind him; hands and feet together is an akedah. It is the same language as “akedim” whose ankles were white — the place where they are bound was recognizable.

On the daf / in context: The technical term “akedah” is defined as the binding of hands and feet together behind the back, the posture that gives the event its name.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Rashi / Bavli) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Lexical and physical definition of the binding itself.

What Is Learned

The Akeidah is named for a precise form of binding; the posture of total surrender is part of the offering’s meaning.