Noach 8:20 · unit 2

TT #39 · Parashas Noach · Third Aliyah · Passuk 8:20

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּ֥בֶן נֹ֛חַ מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּקַּ֞ח מִכֹּ֣ל הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה הַטְּהֹרָ֗ה וּמִכֹּל֙ הָע֣וֹף הַטָּה֔וֹר וַיַּ֥עַל עֹלֹ֖ת בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

Then Noach built an altar to Hashem and, taking of every pure animal and of every pure bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Chabad.org — 8:20

Source Citation

Torah Temimah places the notarikon of “mizbeach” here (first occurrence of the word in the Torah).

Sefaria — context

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
מִזְבֵּחַ — אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מִזְבֵּחַ – מֵזִיחַ, מֵזִין, מְחַבֵּב וּמְכַפֵּר.

English: “Mizbeach” — R’ Elazar said: Mizbeach — it removes (mezich) evil decrees, it sustains (mezin) the world, it endears (mechabev) Israel to their Father in Heaven, and it atones (mechaper).

On the daf / in context: The first appearance of the word “mizbeach” is the occasion for the classic notarikon that encapsulates the multiple functions of the altar.

Type of Learning

Custom (notarikon of the word mizbeach).

What Is Learned

The altar removes decrees, sustains the world, endears Israel, and effects atonement.