Derasha 1 on Behar 25:17

Parashas Behar · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 25:17

The Complete Passuk

וְלֹ֤א תוֹנוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־עֲמִית֔וֹ וְיָרֵ֖אתָ מֵֽאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra / Bava Metzia 58b.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra / Bava Metzia 58b
וְלֹא תוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת עֲמִיתוֹ. זוֹ אוֹנָאַת דְּבָרִים; וְיָרֵאתָ מֵאֱלֹהֶיךָ — שֶׁהַדָּבָר מָסוּר לַלֵּב.

English: “And you shall not wrong one another.” This is verbal ona’ah; “and you shall fear your God” — because the matter is entrusted to the heart.

Type of Learning

Classical derasha (Sifra / Bavli Bava Metzia).

What Is Learned

This verse prohibits verbal ona’ah (hurtful or deceptive speech). Because intent is known only to the heart, the verse adds “and you shall fear your God.”