Derasha 1 on Vaeira 7:18

TT #1 · Parashas Vaeira · Passuk 7:18

Complete Passuk

וְהַדָּגָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹ֛ר תָּמ֖וּת וּבָאַ֣שׁ הַיְאֹ֑ר וְנִלְא֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת מַ֖יִם מִן־הַיְאֹֽר׃ {ס}        

and the fish in the Nile will die. The Nile will stink so that the Egyptians will find it impossible to drink the water of the Nile.’”

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to the classical source underlying this unit (see Core Text).

Core Text

Core Text
והדגה. [מכאן דדגה בין גדולים בין קטנים במשמע] , ואעפ"כ בנדרים הולכים אחר לשון בני אדם .(נדרים נ"א ב׳)

English of Core Text: “Dagah” includes large and small fish; “dag” alone implies large. Nedarim follow ordinary speech.

Type of Learning: Definition / linguistic inference
What Is Learned: The wording of the plague teaches scope of “fish” and a principle of vows following common usage.