Vayechi 50:16 · unit 1

Parashas Vayechi · Passuk 50:16

The Complete Passuk

וַיְצַוּ֕וּ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף לֵאמֹ֑ר אָבִ֣יךָ צִוָּ֔ה לִפְנֵ֥י מוֹת֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃

And they sent a message unto Yosef, saying: Thy father did command before he died, saying.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Yevamos 65b.

Sefaria — Yevamos 65b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי אִילְעָא מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: מֻתָּר לְאָדָם לְשַׁנּוֹת בִּדְבַר הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְצַוּוּ אֶל יוֹסֵף לֵאמֹר אָבִיךָ צִוָּה \ldots״.

English: R’ Ile’a said in the name of R’ Elazar b’R’ Shimon: It is permitted for a person to alter [the truth] for the sake of peace, as it is said “And they sent a message unto Yosef, saying: Thy father did command \ldots”

On the daf / in context: The brothers attribute to Yaakov a command that the text never records him giving; the Gemara derives from this that one may deviate from strict truth in order to preserve peace.

Type of Learning

Halachic derivation permitting alteration for the sake of peace.

What Is Learned

It is permitted to change one’s words for the sake of peace; the brothers’ message to Yosef is the scriptural source.