Vayeishev 37:4 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 37:4 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּרְא֣וּ אֶחָ֗יו כִּֽי־אֹת֞וֹ אָהַ֤ב אֲבִיהֶם֙ מִכׇּל־אֶחָ֔יו וַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּ אֹת֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יָכְל֖וּ דַּבְּר֥וֹ לְשָׁלֹֽם׃

And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of his brothers, they hated him so that they could not speak a friendly word to him.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Bereshis Rabbah 84:9.

Sefaria — Bereshis Rabbah 84:9

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַיִּרְאוּ אֶחָיו כִּי אֹתוֹ אָהַב אֲבִיהֶם מִכָּל אֶחָיו — אָמַר רַבִּי אַהֲבָה בַּר זְעֵירָא: מִתּוֹךְ גְּנוּתָן שֶׁל שְׁבָטִים אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שִׁבְחָן.

English: “And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers” — R’ Ahava bar Ze’eira said: From the tribes’ own fault you learn their praise.

In context: Bereshis Rabbah notes that the brothers’ hatred is stated openly; their willingness to be recorded with their flaw is itself a form of integrity.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bereshis Rabbah) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Narrative blame is reread as evidence of character.

What Is Learned

The Torah’s frank record of the brothers’ hatred is itself testimony to their honesty: their flaw is not hidden.