Ki Savo 26:17–18 · unit 2

Parashas Ki Savo · Passukim 26:17–18

The Complete Passuk

…וַיהֹוָ֞ה הֶאֱמִֽירְךָ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם לִהְי֥וֹת לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם סְגֻלָּ֔ה…

And Hashem has distinguished you today to be for Him a treasured people…

Chabad.org — 26:18

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to related material on the reciprocal form (and parallel discussions of mutual commitment).

Sefaria — Chagigah 3a

E-Daf image — Chagigah 3a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
הֶאֱמַרְתָּ / הֶאֱמִירְךָ — בְּרִית שֶׁל הֲדָדִיּוּת: אַתֶּם לֹא תַחֲלִיפוּ אוֹתִי בְּאֵל אַחֵר, וַאֲנִי לֹא אַחֲלִיף אֶתְכֶם בְּאֻמָּה אַחֶרֶת.

English: “You have distinguished / He has distinguished you” — a covenant of reciprocity: you will not exchange Me for another god, and I will not exchange you for another nation.

In context: The paired verbs frame the covenant as two-sided exclusivity, not a one-way obligation.

Type of Learning

Custom (diyuk from the mutual verbal form).

What Is Learned

The verse records a two-sided commitment of exclusivity between Hashem and Israel.