Derasha 1 on Bereishis 1:23 (TT placement; content on “Naaseh adam”)

TT #51 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 23

Complete Passuk

וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם חֲמִישִֽׁי׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Megillah 9a (verified).

E-Daf image (Megillah 9a)

Core Text

Core Textמַעֲשֶׂה בְּתַלְמַי הַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁכִּנֵּס ע״ב זְקֵנִים... וְכָתְבוּ לוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצֶלֶם וּבִדְמוּת.
English of Core Text: An incident with King Ptolemy who gathered seventy-two elders... and they wrote for him “I will make man in image and likeness” (singular, instead of the plural “Let us make”).
On the daf / in context: Among the deliberate changes made for Ptolemy, the plural “Naaseh” was rendered singular to avoid the appearance of multiple creators. (TT lists this under 1:23; the verse itself is the day-closing formula.)
Type of Learning: Custom (protective translation of plural verb)
What Is Learned: The elders changed the plural “Let us make” to singular for Ptolemy so as not to suggest multiple divinities.