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EXTRA · Noach 9:13 · unit 1

Parashas Noach · Rainbow covenant · Passuk 9:13

The Complete Passuk

אֶת־קַשְׁתִּ֕י נָתַ֖תִּי בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן וְהָֽיְתָה֙ לְא֣וֹת בְּרִ֔ית בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין הָאָֽרֶץ׃

I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.

Chabad.org — 9:13

Source Citation

Bereshit Rabbah 35:3 (and parallels) on “kashti.”

Sefaria — Bereshit Rabbah 35:3

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

אֶת קַשְׁתִּי נָתַתִּי — קִשּׁוּתִי, דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא מְקֻשֶּׁה לִי. אֶפְשָׁר כֵּן?! אֶלָּא כַּקַּשִּׁין שֶׁל פֵּרוֹת.

English: “My bow (kashti) I have set” — [read] “My likeness (kishuti),” something that is likened to Me. Is that possible?! Rather, [it is] like the straw (kashin) of the fruit [which is attached yet not identical].

In context: The midrash links the rainbow to the “appearance of the likeness of the glory of Hashem” (Ezekiel 1:28). The rainbow is a permitted visual analogue, not a depiction of the divine essence.

Type of Learning

Custom (aggadic reading of kashti / connection to the divine glory).

What Is Learned

The rainbow is a sign that alludes to the divine glory without equating to it; hence the caution against prolonged staring.

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