Derasha 5 on Bereishis 4:7

TT #160 · Parashas Bereishis · Fourth Aliyah · Passuk 7

Complete Passuk

הֲל֤וֹא אִם־תֵּיטִיב֙ שְׂאֵ֔ת וְאִם֙ לֹ֣א תֵיטִ֔יב לַפֶּ֖תַח חַטָּ֣את רֹבֵ֑ץ וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ תְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔וֹ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּמְשׇׁל־בּֽוֹ׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Sanhedrin 91b (verified).

E-Daf image (Sanhedrin 91b)

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַבִּי: דָּבָר זֶה לִמְּדַנִי אַנְטוֹנִינוּס. יֵצֶר הָרָע שׁוֹלֵט בָּאָדָם מִשְּׁעַת יְצִיאָה לָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לַפֶּתַח חַטָּאת רֹבֵץ.
English of Core Text: Rabbi said: Antoninus taught me this matter. The evil inclination rules over a person from the moment he emerges into the world, as it is said “sin crouches at the door.”
On the daf / in context: The “door” is taken as the entrance into life; the yetzer is present from birth.
Type of Learning: Custom (yetzer from birth)
What Is Learned: The evil inclination is present from the moment of birth, crouching at the doorway of life.