Literary Devices – Bereshit 18/0

Literary Devices – Bereshit 18

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Key Words

צחק (to laugh)

• Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the root “צחק” is the word that appears with the greatest frequency in this chapter relative to the rest of Tanakh. This word is associated strongly with the narrative of Yitzchak, in this chapter as well as in Chapters 17 and 21.
• For analysis of the significance of laughter in Yitzchak’s narrative and legacy, see Parshat Vayera - Laughter and Isaac by R. Alex Israel.

מהר (to hurry)

• Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the root "מהר” (to hurry) is the word that appears with third greatest frequency in this chapter relative to the rest of Tanakh. This root is accompanied by two appearances of the root "רוץ" (to run). Together they connote the enthusiasm of Avraham in greeting and serving his guests.
• Interestingly, according to the Tanakh Lab¹, the chapter most linguistically similar to this chapter is Bereshit 24, discussing Rivka’s hospitality, in which the same two roots appear.² Rivka, too, rushes and runs to provide hospitality.

צדיק (righteous)  In the section of the chapter about Sedom (verses 16-33), Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the word “צדיק” is one of the most frequently used words relative to the rest of Bereshit and the rest of Tanakh.  The related word “צדקה” also appears (verse 19), as well as the connected word “משפט” (verses 19 and 25).  Hashem says of Avraham that he will pursue "צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט", and shortly thereafter Avraham demands of Hashem that He practice מִשְׁפָּט. These words emphasize the central ideas of the story about the lack of righteousness in the culture of Sedom, and how Avraham’s compassion on Sedom is a manifestation of righteousness. 

Character Titles

¹ Click on the Torah icon to see a list of links to the most linguistically similar chapters to that being displayed.

² The concordance reveals that the first six occurrences of the root "רוץ" in Tanakh are in these two stories. Similarly, six of the first seven occurrences of the root "מהר" are in the two chapters.