Reeh 12:28 · unit 5

TT #114 · Parashas Reeh · Second Aliyah · Passuk 12:28

The Complete Passuk

שְׁמֹ֣ר וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֗ אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֑ךָּ לְמַ֩עַן֩ יִיטַ֨ב לְךָ֜ וּלְבָנֶ֤יךָ אַחֲרֶ֙יךָ֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם כִּ֤י תַעֲשֶׂה֙ הַטּ֣וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

Observe and hear all these words that I command you, in order that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of Hashem your God.

Chabad.org — 12:28

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei.

Sefaria — Sifrei

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
הַטּוֹב וְהַיָּשָׁר – מַהוּ הַטּוֹב וּמַהוּ הַיָּשָׁר. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר, הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵי שָׁמַיִם וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי אָדָם.

English: “The good and the right” — What is “the good” and what is “the right”? Rabbi Akiva says: the good in the eyes of Heaven and the right in the eyes of man.

On the daf / in context: The verse distinguishes two standards of proper action: one measured by the will of Heaven and one measured by what appears upright among people.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — dual criteria of “good” and “right”.

What Is Learned

One must act both in a manner that is good before Heaven and right in the eyes of human beings.