Derasha 1 on Bereishis 35:18

TT #50 · Parashas Vayishlach · Passuk 35:18

Complete Passuk

וַיְהִ֞י בְּצֵ֤את נַפְשָׁהּ֙ כִּ֣י מֵ֔תָה וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ בֶּן־אוֹנִ֑י וְאָבִ֖יו קָֽרָא־ל֥וֹ בִנְיָמִֽין׃

And it was, as her soul was departing — for she died — that she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Binyamin.

Chabad · Genesis 35:18

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Bereshit Rabbah 82:9.

Sefaria · Bereshit Rabbah 82:9

Core Text of Chazal

בן אוני — בן צערי; בנימין — בן ימין.

“Ben-oni” — son of my sorrow; “Binyamin” — son of the right hand.

On the daf / in context

The Midrash contrasts the two names given by mother and father.

Type of Learning

Derash on the two names (Bereshit Rabbah).

What Is Learned

Rachel named the child for her sorrow; Yaakov renamed him for strength and favor.