Vayeishev 37:33 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 37:33 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַיַּכִּירָ֤הּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כְּתֹ֣נֶת בְּנִ֔י חַיָּ֥ה רָעָ֖ה אֲכָלָ֑תְהוּ טָרֹ֥ף טֹרַ֖ף יוֹסֵֽף׃

He recognized it, and said, “My son’s tunic! A savage beast devoured him! Joseph was torn by a beast!”

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

Core Text

חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ — נִצְנְצָה בּוֹ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ: אֵיזוֹ הִיא חַיָּה רָעָה? זוֹ אֵשֶׁת פּוֹטִיפַר.

English: “An evil beast has devoured him” — a spark of the Divine Spirit flashed in him: which evil beast? The wife of Potiphar.

In context: Yaakov’s words, spoken in error about death, are midrashically aimed at the later danger in Mitzrayim.

Derash on the verse (Bereshis Rabbah) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Mistaken eulogy is re-read as unwitting prophecy.

“Evil beast” is taken as an unintended prophecy of Potiphar’s wife, the true threat awaiting Yosef.