Derasha 1 on Bereishis 1:27 (fill)

EXTRA · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 27

Supplementary fill for former SKIP range: classical material tightly bound to this passuk (TT listed none or placed related material elsewhere).

Complete Passuk

וַיִּבְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶת־הָֽאָדָם֙ בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּרָ֣א אֹת֑וֹ זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בָּרָ֥א אֹתָֽם׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Kesubos 8a / Berachos 61a traditions — singular/plural of creation.

E-Daf image (Kesubos 8a)

Core Text

Core Textרַב יְהוּדָה רָמֵי: כְּתִיב בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בָּרָא אוֹתוֹ, וּכְתִיב זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בָּרָא אֹתָם. הָא כֵּיצַד? בַּתְּחִלָּה עָלָה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה לִבְרֹא שְׁנַיִם, וּלְבַסּוֹף נִבְרָא אֶחָד.
English of Core Text: Rav Yehudah raised a contradiction: It is written “in the image of God He created him,” and it is written “male and female He created them.” How is this? At first it arose in thought to create two, and in the end one was created.
On the daf / in context: The classic resolution used in the sheva berachos and elsewhere: original plan dual, actual creation singular (from which the pair was later formed).
Type of Learning: Custom (plan vs. actual creation of humankind)
What Is Learned: The Divine plan initially contemplated two; the actual creation was of one.