Literary Devices – Bereshit 16/0

Literary Devices – Bereshit 16

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Key Words

Seeing and Hearing In Bereshit 16, there is an interplay between words relating to sight (“ראה” and "עין") and hearing (“שמע” and "ישמעאל") which serve as contrasting key words. 

• The angel twice refers to the faculty of hearing in verse 11, while Hagar focuses on the faculty of sight (see verses 13-14).¹
• Earlier, Avram, in contrast to Hagar, is described as “listening” to Sarai’s voice (verse 2) while Hagar "sees" herself as pregnant, so that Sarai is denigrated "in her eyes" (verses 4-5).
• Significantly, although Hagar is commanded to name her son Yishmael, it is Avraham who actually gives him that name (verse 15-16).

Articles

• R. Yonatan Grossman discusses these guiding words in his book,אברהם: סיפורו של מסע (תל אביב, 2014):126-129.
• Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explores the contrast between hearing and seeing as reflecting the conflicting emotional landscapes of guilt and shame in The Art of Listening. 

Character Titles

¹ The word is highlighted even more through the use of epiphora; the three consecutive clauses of these verses end with the word "ראי".