He Who Brings You Out and the Blessing Over Bread

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 177:2

"Who brings you out [hamotzi] from the land of Egypt." Our rabbis taught: "hamotzi bread from the earth." But Rabbi Nehemiah said: "motzi bread." Rava said: As for "motzi," all agree it means an expression that has already brought out, for it is written, "God who brings them out [motziam] of Egypt" (Numbers 23:22). Where they differ is in "hamotzi": the rabbis hold that "hamotzi" too means that which has already brought out, for it is written, "who brings out [hamotzi] water for you" (Deuteronomy 8:15). Rabbi Nehemiah holds that it is written "hamotzi you from under" and so forth, and He had not yet brought them out [so hamotzi can mean about to bring out]. And the rabbis? Thus He said to Moses: After I bring you out, I will do a thing for you so that you will know that it was I who brought you out, as it is written, "And you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of Egypt" (Exodus 6:7).

Themes