Vayeishev 40:17 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 40:17 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וּבַסַּ֣ל הָֽעֶלְי֗וֹן מִכֹּ֛ל מַאֲכַ֥ל פַּרְעֹ֖ה מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֹפֶ֑ה וְהָע֗וֹף אֹכֵ֥ל אֹתָ֛ם מִן־הַסַּ֖ל מֵעַ֥ל רֹאשִֽׁי׃

In the uppermost basket were all kinds of food for Pharaoh that a baker prepares; and the birds were eating it out of the basket above my head.”

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Bereshis Rabbah 88:6.

Core Text

וְהָעוֹף אֹכֵל אֹתָם מֵעַל רֹאשִׁי — אָמַר רַב חָמָא: אַרְבָּעָה הֵם שֶׁפָּתְחוּ בְּאַף וְאָבְדוּ בְּאַף.

English: “And the birds were eating them from upon my head” — Rav Chama said: there are four who opened with anger and perished with anger.

In context: The baker’s dream of birds on his head is paired with the theme of destructive speech and fate.

Derash on the verse (Bereshis Rabbah) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Dream image is linked to a class of self-ruining speakers.

Opening in anger can seal a fate; the baker’s dream already shows birds consuming what is on his head.