Vayeishev 38:10 · unit 1

Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 38:10

The Complete Passuk

וַיֵּ֛רַע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיָּ֖מֶת גַּם־אֹתֽוֹ׃

And what he did was evil in the eyes of Hashem; and He slew him also.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Niddah 13b (R’ Ami).

Sefaria — Niddah 13b (R’ Ami)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי אַמֵּי: כׇּל הַמֵּבִיא עַצְמוֹ לִידֵי הִרְהוּר אֵין מַכְנִיסִין אוֹתוֹ בִּמְחִיצָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא — כְּתִיב הָכָא ״וַיֵּרַע בְּעֵינֵי ה׳״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם ״כִּי לֹא אֵל חָפֵץ רֶשַׁע אָתָּה לֹא יְגֻרְךָ רָע״.

English: R’ Ami said: Whoever brings himself to impure thoughts is not admitted into the precinct of the Holy One, blessed be He — it is written here “and it was evil in the eyes of Hashem,” and there “For You are not a God who desires wickedness; evil will not dwell with You.”

On the daf / in context: The derash pairs our verse with Tehillim 5:5: one who cultivates evil thought is barred from closeness to Hashem.

Type of Learning

R’ Yishmael #2 — Gezerah shavah on the word רע linking this verse to Tehillim.

What Is Learned

Bringing oneself to impure thoughts is treated with utmost gravity: such a person is not granted entry into Hashem’s “precinct.”