Vayeishev 38:5 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 38:5 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַתֹּ֤סֶף עוֹד֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שֵׁלָ֑ה וְהָיָ֥ה בִכְזִ֖יב בְּלִדְתָּ֥הּ אֹתֽוֹ׃

Once again she bore a son, and named him Shelah; he was at Chezib when she bore him.

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Yalkut Shimoni 145.

Core Text

וְקָרְאָה אֶת שְׁמוֹ שֵׁלָה — שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּלֵּשׁ מִן הָעוֹלָם, אוֹ שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ יְהוּדָה שֶׁיִּשָּׁלֶה.

English: “And she called his name Shelah” — for he was set aside from the world, or because Yehudah sought that he be left in peace (yishaleh).

In context: Shelah’s name reflects Yehudah’s hope to spare him the fate of his brothers.

Derash on the verse (Yalkut) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Naming is read as parental intent.

Shelah’s name encodes Yehudah’s wish to keep this son safe after the deaths of Er and Onan.