Vayeishev 37:32 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 37:32 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֞וּ אֶת־כְּתֹ֣נֶת הַפַּסִּ֗ים וַיָּבִ֙יאוּ֙ אֶל־אֲבִיהֶ֔ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ זֹ֣את מָצָ֑אנוּ הַכֶּר־נָ֗א הַכְּתֹ֧נֶת בִּנְךָ֛ הִ֖וא אִם־לֹֽא׃

They had the ornamented tunic taken to their father, and they said, “We found this. Please examine it; is it your son’s tunic or not?”

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Bereshis Rabbah 84:19.

הַכֶּר נָא — אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ הַכֶּר נָא, חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁתָּמָר אוֹמֶרֶת לְךָ הַכֶּר נָא.

English: “Recognize, please” — the Holy One said to him: You said “recognize, please”; by your life, Tamar will say to you “recognize, please.”

In context: Measure-for-measure: the phrase used to deceive Yaakov will return upon Yehudah from Tamar.

R’ Yishmael-style midah — measure for measure: the same words rebound on the speaker.

The language of the deception is stored for Yehudah’s own reckoning with Tamar.