Peshat (also P'shat, פשט) is one of the two classic methods of Jewish biblical exegesis, the other being Derash. While Peshat is commonly defined as referring to the surface or literal (direct) meaning of a text,[1] or "the plain literal meaning of the verse, the meaning which its author intended to convey",[2] numerous scholars and rabbis have debated this for centuries, giving Peshat many uses and definitions.[3]
Peshat is most often defined as "straight," in reference to its tendency to describe the meaning of the text apparent at face value, taking into account idiomatic expressions, and focusing mostly on literal interpretation.[4] It is often considered the most straightforward method for reading and understanding of biblical text. In this way, Peshat differentiates itself from the other methods present in Pardes (Remez, Drash and Sod), which look at what may be hidden in the text. Peshat interpretations also note the importance of context, both historical and literary.[3] This is in contrast to Drash, which will often take the text of a verse out of its context, for uses beyond the context such as ritual or moral purposes.[3]
However, this does not mean that Peshat and Drash are fully opposing methods. In fact, one may often be used in helping to explain the other, in finding and defining nuances in text that might be otherwise inexplicable without application of both methods.[1][3]
^ abGoldin, S. (2007). Unlocking the Torah Text: Bereishit. Gefen Publishing. ISBN 978-965-229-412-8
^Cite error: The named reference Rabinowitz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abcdGarfinkel, Stephen. "Clearing Peshat and Derash." Hebrew Bible/Old Testament - The History of Its Interpretation. Comp. Chris Brekelmans and Menahem Haran. Ed. Magne Sæbø. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2000. 130-34. Print.
Peshat (also P'shat, פשט) is one of the two classic methods of Jewish biblical exegesis, the other being Derash. While Peshat is commonly defined as referring...
("Scripturalists") accept only the Hebrew Bible and what they view as the Peshat ("simple" meaning); they do not accept non-biblical writings as authoritative...
portion of his writing is dedicated to making distinctions between the peshat, or plain and literal meaning of the text, and the aggadah or rabbinic interpretation...
on the Bible; most common and prominent are medieval commentaries in the peshat tradition Numerous editions of the Mikraot Gedolot have been and continue...
studied on any of four levels as described in the Zohar:[citation needed] Peshat, the plain (simple) or literal reading; Remez, the allegorical reading through...
hairsplitting. Authors referred to their own commentaries as "al derekh ha-peshat" (by the simple method) to contrast them with pilpul. Among Sephardi and...
Targum Onkelos as an exposition of the "official" interpretation of the peshat (or basic meaning) of the Torah as received by rabbis Eliezer ben Hurcanus...
are called pardes from their initial letters (PRDS פַּרדֵס, 'orchard'): Peshat (Hebrew: פשט lit. 'simple'): the direct interpretations of meaning. Remez...
Encyclopedia.com Joseoph ben Eliezer Bonfils Lockshin, M.I. (2009). Lonely Man of Peshat. Jewish Quarterly Review 99(2), 291–300. doi:10.1353/jqr.0.0041. v t e v...
adherents to their movement. Maskilim valued and adapted his emphasis on peshat over pilpul, his engagement with and mastery of Hebrew grammar and Bible...
of much of midrashic interpretation has been distinguished from that of peshat, straight or direct interpretation aiming at the original literal meaning...
Babylonian schools. The Babylonian Amoraim were the first to use the expression "Peshaṭ" ("simple" or face value method) to designate the primary sense, contrasting...
interpretation of the Torah strives to adhere to the plain or most obvious meaning (peshat) of the text; this is not necessarily the literal meaning of the text—instead...
literalist chronology Book of Nepos Demythologization Parallelomania Pardes Peshat Young Earth creationism "Literalism". Dictionary.com. Retrieved August 9...
talionis, ethical Judaism and humane Jewish jurisprudence replaces the peshat (literal meaning) of the written Torah. Pasachoff and Littman point to the...
Pesach, Shavuot, and Hanukkah. The majority of the essays address the peshat or simple understanding of the Biblical text (written law) and attempt to...
approach mysticism. In his commentary on the Song of Solomon, he calls peshaִt (literal explanation) and sod (mystical interpretation) the two opposite...
Christians have used the term to mean the larger or whole teaching of scripture. Peshat "Sensus plenior". reclaimingthemind.org. 21 July 2012. Archived from the...
erred in their understanding of the original context. In Halivni's books Peshat and Derash and Revelation Restored, he attempts to harmonize biblical criticism...
jewishencyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 22, 2019. Mordechai Z. Cohen, The Rule of Peshat: Jewish Constructions of the Plain Sense of Scripture and Their Christian...
which in his opinion are indispensable to the exegete:[citation needed] The peshat, the "plain" meaning of the text in its own right. The midrash or the aggadic...
Encyclopedia Judaica (first edition) Keter Publishing, 1972 David Weiss Halivni Peshat and Derash: Plain and Applied Meaning in Rabbinic Exegesis Oxford University...
Biblical Readings (New York: Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, 2014). Peshat Isn’t So Simple: Essays on Developing a Religious Methodology to Bible Study...
influential Jewish exegete of all time. He is the preeminent expounder of Peshat. Rashi wrote "I, however, am only concerned with the plain sense of Scripture...
halakhic view that the day begins at sundown. However, Rashbam takes a peshat (plain sense) approach, as he does throughout his commentary, reading the...
Besides classical authors, he made use of the church fathers and of Jewish Peshat exegesis. Berndt 2002. Cross & Livingstone 2005. Berndt, Rainer (1991)....
ibn Ezra and David Kimhi, from whom he shared their sense of "derek ha peshat" (an exegesis which prefers a literalist historicalism above allegorical...
Talmudic commentators occupied themselves only with the plain meaning ("peshaṭ") of the text; but after the beginning of the twelfth century the spirit...
pilot project PESHAT (short for "Philosophic and Scientific Hebrew Terminology"), which is his key work in the area of Jewish philosophy. PESHAT is a long-term...
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