Vayeishev 38:18 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 38:18 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָ֣ה הָעֵֽרָבוֹן֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶתֶּן־לָךְ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר חֹתָֽמְךָ֙ וּפְתִילֶ֔ךָ וּמַטְּךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיִּתֶּן־לָ֛הּ וַיָּבֹ֥א אֵלֶ֖יהָ וַתַּ֥הַר לֽוֹ׃

And he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your seal and cord, and the staff that you carry.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she conceived by him.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

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

Sefaria — Sotah 10a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
חֹתָמְךָ וּפְתִילְךָ וּמַטְּךָ — אֵלּוּ שָׁלֹשׁ עֵדֻיּוֹת שֶׁנִּתְּנוּ לָהּ.

English: “Your seal and your cord and your staff” — these are three tokens of testimony that were given to her.

In context: The triple pledge becomes the evidence that later saves Tamar’s life.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Three objects are counted as a complete set of proof.

What Is Learned

Seal, cord, and staff form a threefold witness that Tamar will produce in judgment.