Derasha 1 on Lech Lecha 12:2

TT #1 · Parashas Lech Lecha · First Aliyah · Passuk 12:2

Complete Passuk

וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Pesachim 117b (verified): the three clauses correspond to “God of Avraham / Yitzchak / Yaakov.”

E-Daf image

Core Text

Core Text וַאֲעַשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל – זֶהוּ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם; וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ – זֶהוּ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק; וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ – זֶהוּ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב.
English of Core Text: “I will make you a great nation” — this is why we say “God of Avraham”; “I will bless you” — “God of Yitzchak”; “I will make your name great” — “God of Yaakov.”
On the daf / in context: The Gemara links the wording of the Amidah’s first blessing to the three promises in this verse, showing why the patriarchs are named individually in the liturgy.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

The liturgical formula “God of Avraham, God of Yitzchak, God of Yaakov” is anchored in the three distinct promises of 12:2.