Derasha 1 on Bereishis 6:1

TT #192 · Parashas Bereishis · Sixth Aliyah · Passuk 1

Complete Passuk

וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּֽי־הֵחֵ֣ל הָֽאָדָ֔ם לָרֹ֖ב עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וּבָנ֖וֹת יֻלְּד֥וּ לָהֶֽם׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Bava Basra 16b (verified).

E-Daf image (Bava Basra 16b)

Core Text

Core Textתַּנְיָא, וַיְהִי כִּי הֵחֵל הָאָדָם לָרֹב... רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: רְבִיָּה בָּאָה לָעוֹלָם, וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר: מְרִיבָה בָּאָה לָעוֹלָם.
English of Core Text: It was taught: “And it came to pass when man began to multiply...” Rabbi Yochanan said: Increase (reviyah) came into the world; and Reish Lakish said: Strife (merivah) came into the world.
On the daf / in context: The word “hechel” / “larov” is read by the two Amoraim in opposite emotional registers: either blessing of increase or the onset of conflict.
Type of Learning: Custom (dual reading of the increase)
What Is Learned: The multiplication of mankind is interpreted either as the arrival of increase or as the arrival of strife.