Why the Rabbis Compare Torah to Living Water

Another thing, but only in the Torah of the Lord do they delight. It is said (Isaiah 55:1), "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." Just as water comes from the heavens, as it is said (Jeremiah 10:13), "At the sound of His giving a multitude of waters in the heavens." So too, the words of the Torah were given from heaven, as it is said (Exodus 20:15), "You yourselves have seen that I spoke to you from the heavens."

Just as water is free for the world, so too are the words of the Torah free for the world, as it is said (Isaiah 55:1), "Come, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Just as water descends in the world with sounds and flashes of lightning, as it is said (Psalm 29:3), "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters," so too, the words of the Torah, as it is said (Exodus 19:16), "And it was on the third day, when it became morning, and there were thunder and lightning."

Just as water is life for the world, so too are the words of the Torah life for the world, as it is said (Proverbs 4:22), "For they are life to those who find them, and healing for all their flesh." And it is written (Deuteronomy 32:47), "For it is not an empty thing for you." Just as water descends drop by drop and becomes streams, so too, a person learns one halacha (Jewish law) a day and one halacha the next day until it becomes like a flowing stream.

Rabbi Onia said: What are water made for? To water gardens and orchards. Can't the same be said for the words of the Torah? As it is said (Hosea 14:10), "For the ways of the Lord are straight."

Rabbi said: Just as water covers the nakedness of the sea, so too do the words of the Torah cover the nakedness of Israel, as it is said (Proverbs 10:12), "And love will cover all sins." Just as the great one is not ashamed to say to the small one, "Give me water to drink," so too is the great one not ashamed to say to the small one, "Teach me one chapter or one halacha." Just as a person is not too lazy to drink water when he is thirsty, so too, a student is not too lazy to go to the Rabbi to learn from him.

There was a story with Rabbi Yossi that he went to learn from his teacher and so on. This is what is written (Deuteronomy 33:4), "A heritage for the assembly of Jacob." For all who assemble in Jacob, even the convert.Another thing, but only in the Torah of the Lord do they delight. It is said (Isaiah 55:1), "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters."

Just as water comes from the heavens, as it is said (Jeremiah 10:13), "At the sound of His giving a multitude of waters in the heavens." So too, the words of the Torah were given from heaven, as it is said (Exodus 20:15), "You yourselves have seen that I spoke to you from the heavens." Just as water is free for the world, so too are the words of the Torah free for the world, as it is said (Isaiah 55:1), "Come, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

Just as water descends in the world with sounds and flashes of lightning, as it is said (Psalm 29:3), "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters," so too, the words of the Torah, as it is said (Exodus 19:16), "And it was on the third day, when it became morning, and there were thunder and lightning." Just as water is life for the world, so too are the words of the Torah life for the world, as it is said (Proverbs 4:22), "For they are life to those who find them, and healing for all their flesh."

And it is written (Deuteronomy 32:47), "For it is not an empty thing for you." Just as water descends drop by drop and becomes streams, so too, a person learns one halacha (Jewish law) a day and one halacha the next day until it becomes like a flowing stream. Rabbi Onia said: What are water made for? To water gardens and orchards.

Can't the same be said for the words of the Torah? As it is said (Hosea 14:10), "For the ways of the Lord are straight." Rabbi said: Just as water covers the nakedness of the sea, so too do the words of the Torah cover the nakedness of Israel, as it is said (Proverbs 10:12), "And love will cover all sins." Just as the great one is not ashamed to say to the small one, "Give me water to drink," so too is the great one not ashamed to say to the small one, "Teach me one chapter or one halacha."

Just as a person is not too lazy to drink water when he is thirsty, so too, a student is not too lazy to go to the Rabbi to learn from him. There was a story with Rabbi Yossi that he went to learn from his teacher and so on. This is what is written (Deuteronomy 33:4), "A heritage for the assembly of Jacob." For all who assemble in Jacob, even the convert.