Derasha 1 on Lech Lecha 17:15

TT #1 · Parashas Lech Lecha · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 17:15

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֔ם שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתְּךָ֔ לֹא־תִקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמָ֖הּ שָׂרָ֑י כִּ֥י שָׂרָ֖ה שְׁמָֽהּ׃

God said to Avraham: As for Sarai your wife — you shall not call her name Sarai, for Sarah is her name.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to R. Yitzchak: change of name tears up a person’s decree (Sarah was barren by nature).

Core Text

Core Text אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: שִׁנּוּי הַשֵּׁם קוֹרֵעַ גְּזַר דִּינוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם, דִּכְתִיב לֹא תִקְרָא אֶת שְׁמָהּ שָׂרַי כִּי שָׂרָה שְׁמָהּ, וּכְתִיב בָּתְרֵיהּ וּבֵרַכְתִּי אֹתָהּ וְגַם נָתַתִּי מִמֶּנָּה לְךָ בֵּן.
English of Core Text: R. Yitzchak said: change of name tears up a person’s decree, as it is written “you shall not call her name Sarai, for Sarah is her name,” and afterward “I will bless her and I will also give you a son from her.”
On the daf / in context: Parallel to the teaching on change of place (12:1); the new name accompanies the reversal of barrenness.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

A new name, like a new place, can reopen a closed decree.