Vayeishev 38:17 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 38:17 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָנֹכִ֛י אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח גְּדִֽי־עִזִּ֖ים מִן־הַצֹּ֑אן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר אִם־תִּתֵּ֥ן עֵרָב֖וֹן עַ֥ד שׇׁלְחֶֽךָ׃

He replied, “I will send a kid from my flock.” But she said, “You must leave a pledge until you have sent it.”

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Sotah 10a.

Sefaria — Sotah 10a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָנֹכִי אֲשַׁלַּח גְּדִי עִזִּים — מִכָּאן שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים תּוֹלִים אֶת דִּבּוּרָם בְּמַעֲשֶׂה.

English: “I will send a kid of the goats” — from here, that the righteous attach their word to a concrete act.

In context: Yehudah does not leave a vague promise; he names a specific pledge of payment.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli/midrash style) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Specificity of the promise is treated as a mark of integrity.

What Is Learned

A righteous person’s word is tied to a definite action — here, a kid from the flock.