Derasha 3 on Haazinu 32:4

Parashas Haazinu · Passuk 32:4

The Complete Passuk

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ כִּי כָל דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט אֵל אֱמוּנָה וְאֵין עָוֶל צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא

Chabad.org — Devarim 32

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to the statement of Rabbi Chanina.

Sefaria — Devarim 32:4

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא, כָּל הָאוֹמֵר הַקָּבָּ״ה וַתְרָן – יוּתְרוּ חַיָּיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ כִּי כָל דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט

English: Rabbi Chanina said: Anyone who says that the Holy One is a “vatran” (one who casually overlooks), let his life be forfeit, as it is said “The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice.”

Type of Learning

A strict affirmation of divine justice derived from the description of Hashem as the perfect Rock.

What Chazal Learned

The verse leaves no room for the claim that Hashem simply overlooks wrongdoing. Every path is justice. The derasha therefore rejects any theology that would encourage a person to sin while relying on divine leniency.

Audio: dafyomi.org · YICC (Rav Etshalom)