Pinchas 25:15 · unit 1 — Kozbi — she lied against her father

Parashas Pinchas · Passuk 25:15

The Complete Passuk

וְשֵׁם הָאִשָּׁה הַמֻּכָּה הַמִּדְיָנִית כָּזְבִּי בַת־צוּר רֹאשׁ אֻמּוֹת בֵּית־אָב בְּמִדְיָן הוּא׃

And the name of the Midianite woman who was struck was Kozbi daughter of Tzur; he was head of nations of a father’s house in Midian.

Chabad.org — 25:15

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Sanhedrin 82b

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 82b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ כָּזְבִּי – שֶׁכִּזְּבָה בְּאָבִיהָ, דָּבָר אַחֵר כָּזְבִּי – שֶׁאָמְרָה לְאָבִיהָ כּוֹס בִּי עִם זֶה.

English: Rav Sheshes said: Why was she called Kozbi? Because she lied against her father. Another interpretation: Kozbi — because she said to her father, “Join me with this one.”

Type of Learning

Name midrash on Kozbi.

What Is Learned

Her name marks deception of her father’s will and the invitation to sin.