Pinchas 27:21 · unit 4 — why they are called Urim — they illuminate their words

Parashas Pinchas · Passuk 27:21

The Complete Passuk

וְלִפְנֵי אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן יַעֲמֹד וְשָׁאַל לוֹ בְּמִשְׁפַּט הָאוּרִים לִפְנֵי ה׳ עַל־פִּיו יֵצְאוּ וְעַל־פִּיו יָבֹאוּ הוּא וְכָל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִתּוֹ וְכָל־הָעֵדָה׃

And he shall stand before Elazar the Kohen, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Hashem; at his word they shall go out and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Yisrael with him, and all the congregation.

Chabad.org — 27:21

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Yoma 73b

Sefaria — Yoma 73b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
תַּנְיָא, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָם אוּרִים – שֶׁמְּאִירִים אֶת דִּבְרֵיהֶם.

English: It was taught: why are they called Urim? Because they illuminate their words.

Type of Learning

Etymology of Urim.

What Is Learned

The name encodes clarity of the response.