Noach 11:29 · unit 1

TT #85 · Parashas Noach · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 11:29

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּקַּ֨ח אַבְרָ֧ם וְנָח֛וֹר לָהֶ֖ם נָשִׁ֑ים שֵׁ֤ם אֵֽשֶׁת־אַבְרָם֙ שָׂרָ֔י וְשֵׁ֤ם אֵֽשֶׁת־נָחוֹר֙ מִלְכָּ֔ה בַּת־הָרָ֥ן אֲבִֽי־מִלְכָּ֖ה וַֽאֲבִ֥י יִסְכָּֽה׃

Avram and Nachor took wives for themselves; the name of Avram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nachor’s wife was Milkah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milkah and the father of Yiskah.

Chabad.org — 11:29

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to the identification of Yiskah with Sarah (Sanhedrin 69b / Megillah).

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 69b

E-Daf image — Sanhedrin 69b (size=3)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
יִסְכָּה — תַּנְיָא, יִסְכָּה זוֹ שָׂרָה, וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ יִסְכָּה? שֶׁסָּכְתָה בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ… דָּבָר אַחֵר: יִסְכָּה — שֶׁהַכֹּל סוֹכִין בְּיָפְיָהּ.

English: “Yiskah” — It was taught: Yiskah is Sarah. Why was she called Yiskah? Because she gazed (sachah) with the holy spirit… Alternatively: because everyone gazed upon her beauty.

Type of Learning

Custom (identification of Yiskah with Sarah and dual etymology).

What Is Learned

Yiskah is Sarah; the name alludes either to prophetic vision or to the universal admiration of her beauty.