Vayechi 49:12 · unit 1

Parashas Vayechi · Passuk 49:12

The Complete Passuk

חַכְלִילִ֥י עֵינַ֖יִם מִיָּ֑יִן וּלְבֶן־שִׁנַּ֖יִם מֵחָלָֽב׃

His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Kesubos 111b.

Sefaria — Kesubos 111b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
כִּי אֲתָא רַב דִּימִי אָמַר: אָמְרָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רְמֹז לִי בְּעֵינֶיךָ דִּבְסִים מֵחַמְרָא, וְאַחְוֵי לִי שִׁנַּיִךְ דִּבְסִים מֵחֲלָבָא.

English: When Rav Dimi came he said: The Congregation of Yisrael said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe, hint to me with Your eyes that are sweeter than wine, and show me Your teeth that are sweeter than milk.

On the daf / in context: The verse is read as a request of Knesses Yisrael for the radiant, smiling countenance of the Shechinah.

Type of Learning

Aggadic derash of the imagery of eyes and teeth.

What Is Learned

The Congregation of Yisrael asks to be shown the pleasant countenance of Hashem, whose eyes and teeth are described with the language of the verse.