Vayeishev 39:7 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 39:7 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַתִּשָּׂ֧א אֵֽשֶׁת־אֲדֹנָ֛יו אֶת־עֵינֶ֖יהָ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֑ף וַתֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁכְבָ֥ה עִמִּֽי׃

After a time, his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Lie with me.”

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Bereshis Rabbah 87:3.

Core Text

וַתִּשָּׂא אֵשֶׁת אֲדֹנָיו אֶת עֵינֶיהָ — עֵינֶיהָ הִגְבִּיהָה, וְלֹא רָאֲתָה מַה שֶּׁלְּמַעְלָה מִמֶּנָּה.

English: “And his master’s wife cast her eyes” — she raised her eyes, and did not see what was above her.

In context: The sin begins with the eye that refuses to look toward Heaven.

Derash on the verse (Bereshis Rabbah) — not a formal named middah of the 13. “Cast her eyes” is moralized as upward blindness.

Desire starts when the eye is lifted toward what is forbidden and lowered away from Heaven.