Mishpatim / משפטים : SHMOT (EXODUS) 21:1-24:18 (all links to citations will take you to the text on Sepharia.org)
While preparing for this week’s ParshaNosher post, I was particularly struck by the beauty of the language of Exodus 23:12 , which reads:
“Six days you will do the things that you do[i]/ ששת ימים תעשה מעשיך
and you will ‘tishbot’on the seventh day, / וביום השביעי תשבת
so that your donkey and ox will ‘yanuach,’ / למען ינוח שורך וחמרך
and the son of your servant, and the resident alien[ii] will ‘yinafash.’” / וינפש בן־אמתך והגר
All three of the underlined words can be translated as resting, but each has a very different meaning, which is often missed because they cannot be directly translated.
TISHBOT: Translating the variations of the word Shabbat (Sabbath) is extremely difficult, as it is almost defining it as itself, best translated as “you will shabbat” and is ONLY used in the context of observing Shabbat, ON Shabbat,[iii] as we are commanded to do so.
YANUACH: This literally means REST, usually physical.
YINAFASH: This comes from the root “nefesh,” meaning SOUL. And significantly, this is the choice of words used in Exodus 31:17, to describe what G-d did after G-d had completed the act of creation.
I loved reading this. I love that although both the animal and the person rest, there are different reasons for them to rest. I love that animals in our care, custody, and control deserve to rest, not just because they are ours, but because they need to rest. I love the fact that both the people who serve us and those who live amongst us, for however long, are acknowledged not only to have souls, but through the language used their souls are connected to G-d’s, and that the purpose for their rest is akin to G-d’s.
So… having noticed this, I wanted to share it with you. —Talya Bernstein Galaganov
[i] Ta’ase and Ma’asecha both have the same root: ASE, which means “to do.” This is a different word from Melacha, used in Exodus 20:9-10, which is used as a term of art to describe those actions we must refrain from doing on Shabbat.
[ii] Although the word “Ger” is used nowadays to refer to someone who has converted to Judaism, the word in the Torah is used to mean someone who is not part of the Jewish people, but lives with us. Thus, I believe “resident alien” is the clearest way to translate it. The various translations at my fingers translate this as stranger (Soncino Press: Hertz Edition and Artscroll) or sojourner (Artscroll: The Stone Edition). Some commentators thought of this as a temporary living situation, others as more permanent.
[iii] Except when we observe Yom Kippur which is described as Shabbat Shabbaton (the “Shabbat of Shabbats”).
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