Chayei Sarah 24:16 · unit 1

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 24:16

The Complete Passuk

וְהַנַּעֲרָה טֹבַת מַרְאֶה מְאֹד בְּתוּלָה וְאִישׁ לֹא יְדָעָהּ וַתֵּרֶד הָעַיְנָה וַתְּמַלֵּא כַדָּהּ וַתָּעַל׃

And the maiden was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up.

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Yevamos 61b. E-Daf · Sefaria — Yevamos 61b

בְּתוּלָה — אֵין בְּתוּלָה אֶלָּא נַעֲרָה. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: וְהַנַּעֲרָה טוֹבַת מַרְאֶה מְאֹד בְּתוּלָה.

“Betulah” means a maiden, as the verse describes Rivkah as a na’arah and a betulah.

On the daf / in context: The term betulah in legal contexts is defined as a na’arah rather than a minor or a bogeret; the verse supplies the linguistic support.

Type of Learning

Custom (Bavli — definition of betulah as na’arah)

What Is Learned

In Torah law “betulah” refers to a na’arah; the description of Rivkah as both “na’arah” and “betulah” anchors that definition.