Vayeitzei 31:53 · EXTRA 1

EXTRA · Side-ring · Parashas Vayeitzei · Passuk 31:53

This page is an EXTRA derasha. It is not part of the main-ring PREV/NEXT chain.

The Complete Passuk

אֱלֹהֵ֨י אַבְרָהָ֜ם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֤י נָחוֹר֙ יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ בֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖י אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּפַ֖חַד אָבִ֥יו יִצְחָֽק׃

The God of Avraham and the God of Nachor will judge between us — the God of their father. And Yaakov swore by the Fear of his father Yitzchak.

Source Citation

Classical sources beyond the TT-numbered main ring: Rashi on 31:42 and 31:53 (on Pachad Yitzchak).

Lemma: בפחד אביו יצחק.

Core Text of Chazal / Classical Meforshim

Core Text
בְּפַחַד אָבִיו יִצְחָק – לֹא רָצָה לוֹמַר אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק, שֶׁאֵין הַקָּבָּ״ה מְיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ עַל הַצַּדִּיקִים בְּחַיֵּיהֶם.

English: “By the Fear of his father Yitzchak” — he did not wish to say “the God of Yitzchak,” because the Holy One, blessed be He, does not associate His Name with the righteous while they are still alive.

On the daf / in context: Rashi (drawing on earlier tradition) explains Yaakov’s careful choice of language: while Yitzchak was still living, Yaakov avoided the formula “God of Yitzchak” and instead swore by “the Fear of Yitzchak.”

Type of Learning

Derash / classical peirush — not a formal named middah of the 13. The choice of epithet reflects a theological restraint regarding the living righteous.

What Is Learned

Yaakov’s oath employs the distinctive title “Fear of Yitzchak,” reflecting the principle that the Divine Name is not joined to the living tzaddik in the same direct manner as to the departed.