Shemot Rabbah

468 texts in Midrash Rabbah

God Hears Every Voice Crying Out at Once

Shemot Rabbah 28:4

Can you picture them all crying out at the same moment? Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, tells us that God hears them all concurrently...

CreationAdam & EveJosephMoses

How God Can Be Warrior and Teacher All at Once

Shemot Rabbah 28:5

Shemot Rabbah (a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus) offers a mind-bending perspective on this, using God as the ultimate example. It begins with the simp...

MosesJobTorahEgypt

Every Future Prophecy Was Already Given at Sinai

Shemot Rabbah 28:6

According to Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Exodus, the answer might surprise you. It all goes back to Mount Sinai. Rabbi Yitzḥak makes a bold clai...

CreationAngelsMosesKing David

Trial of Rabbi Simlai

Shemot Rabbah 29:1

The book of Deuteronomy (4:33) asks a pretty profound question: “Has a people heard the voice of God [Elohim] speaking [medaber] from the midst of the fire, as you heard, and lived...

JosephMosesKing DavidDivine Names

What the Revelation at Sinai Really Looked Like

Shemot Rabbah 29:2

We often picture it as a solitary moment, maybe Moses standing on the mountain alone. But Jewish tradition paints a much grander, more awe-inspiring picture. Get ready for this… Sh...

MosesKing DavidDivine NamesHoly Land

God Freed Us From Egypt So We Would Accept His Kingship

Shemot Rabbah 29:3

He says that God declares "I am the Lord your God" precisely because He took us out of Egypt. It's the foundation. He freed us so that we would, in turn, accept His divinity upon o...

JosephEgyptKingsRoyalty

Lord in the Days of Moses

Shemot Rabbah 29:4

The Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Exodus, offers some fascinating insights. Rabbi Aḥa ben Rabbi Ḥanina kicks things off with a quote from (Psalms ...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

Jethro and the Dreamer

Shemot Rabbah 29:5

It’s a declaration, a relationship. And Shemot Rabbah, the great collection of homiletical teachings on the Book of Exodus, offers some profound insights into why this phrasing is ...

JosephMosesTorahProphecy

God Arrives at Sinai Like a King Entering a City

Shemot Rabbah 29:6

But according to Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, there's a whole world of meaning packed into that single verse. It wasn't just a pro...

CreationProphecyKingsSin

God the King Who Uproots His Palace and Follows You

Shemot Rabbah 29:7

It's more than just a title, more than just a declaration of power. According to Shemot Rabbah, it's a promise. A promise of unwavering commitment, far beyond what any earthly rule...

CreationAdam & EveNoah & FloodPatriarchs

The Terrifying Power and Awe of Receiving the Torah

Shemot Rabbah 29:9

We often picture a grand, almost theatrical event. But the ancient texts hint at something far more profound, and even a little terrifying. The Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection ...

CreationMosesKing DavidSolomon

Nebuchadnezzar and the Lawgiver of Israelites

Shemot Rabbah 30:1

, shall we? The verse "These are the ordinances that you shall place before them" (Exodus 21:1) seems straightforward enough. But the Rabbis, in their infinite wisdom, saw much mor...

MosesKing DavidDanielProphecy

Life of Moses and the Altar

Shemot Rabbah 30:2

Take a look at Exodus. Right after we're told, "You shall not ascend on stairs to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed upon it," (Exodus 20:23) we suddenly read, "A...

MosesTorahTempleEgypt

The Difference Between These and And These in Torah

Shemot Rabbah 30:3

In Jewish tradition, even a single letter can unlock hidden depths." It's a difference that, according to some rabbinic interpretations, can tell us what's being included and what'...

CreationAngelsAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Three Things Moses Gave His Life For

Shemot Rabbah 30:4

It all begins with the phrase, “these are [ve’eleh] the ordinances.” But it's not just about the laws themselves; it's about the dedication behind them. The Rabbis of the Midrash (...

MosesEstherTorahProphecy

Why the Ordinances of Exodus Are So Excellent

Shemot Rabbah 30:5

Shemot Rabbah, the collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, points this out explicitly. "Come and see," it urges, "how excellent this portion is!" What's so ex...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsJoseph

Accidental Harm to a Pregnant Woman in Torah Law

Shemot Rabbah 30:6

This passage dives into the verses in Exodus dealing with accidental harm to a pregnant woman. The text quotes (Exodus 21:22-23): “If men fight and they strike a pregnant woman and...

Hell/GehennaMosesKing DavidTorah

Golden Calf and the Fires of Gehenna

Shemot Rabbah 30:7

It all starts with a seemingly straightforward verse from (Exodus 21:37): “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five cattle for the ox and f...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesKing David

Why God Commands Special Protection for Widows and Orphans

Shemot Rabbah 30:8

It might seem obvious – they're in need of help! But the Rabbis, those masters of interpretation, saw something deeper at play. Consider the verse in Exodus (22:21): "You shall not...

HeavenMosesKing DavidElijah

God's Ordinances Given to Israel and No Other Nation

Shemot Rabbah 30:9

It's a pretty radical concept, really. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash on the Book of Exodus, dives right into this. It starts with the verse "These are the ordinanc...

CreationHell/GehennaAdam & EveNoah & Flood

How God Showed Love to Moses Through the Law

Shemot Rabbah 30:10

It all centers around the Hebrew word ve’eleh, meaning "these are." The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) opens with a question: What's so special about ve’eleh? The Rabbi...

CreationJosephMosesHoly Land

The Ten Commandments of David

Shemot Rabbah 30:11

The passage starts with the phrase, "These are [ve’eleh] the ordinances." That little word "ve’eleh" – "these are" – isn't just a throwaway. The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive comm...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsMoses

Why the Torah Was Given Only to the People of Israel

Shemot Rabbah 30:12

It’s a question that's been asked for centuries. And Shemot Rabbah, a treasure trove of rabbinic commentary on the Book of Exodus, gives us a glimpse into a fascinating answer. The...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidTorah

The Ordinances That Link Adam's World to Moses' Law

Shemot Rabbah 30:13

In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exploration of this idea, starting with the verse "These are the ordinances....

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Divine Presence of Isaiah

Shemot Rabbah 30:14

Shemot Rabbah, a treasure trove of interpretations on the Book of Exodus, brings us a powerful insight through a teaching connected to the verse, "These are the ordinances" (Exodus...

King DavidProphecyRepentanceWisdom

Endow the King With Your Justice O God Says the Psalmist

Shemot Rabbah 30:15

The text opens with a quote from Psalms: "Endow the king with Your justice, God…May he judge Your people with righteousness" (Psalms 72:1–2). Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, a key figure in t...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

God's Justice Shows No Favoritism to Anyone

Shemot Rabbah 30:16

And, well, the answer might surprise you. Rabbi Natan, in Shemot Rabbah, makes a pretty strong statement: justice is fitting for God precisely because He upholds it without showing...

CreationHell/GehennaAngelsPatriarchs

Nothing Good and No Peace Ever Comes From Quarreling

Shemot Rabbah 30:17

Rabbi Shimon, in Shemot Rabbah, really zeroes in on this. He points out the verse in Exodus (21:18), "If men quarrel and one strikes the other." Rabbi Shimon emphasizes that "nothi...

CreationAngelsDemonsJoseph

The Sanhedrin Must Examine Every Case With Care

Shemot Rabbah 30:18

It’s a question that’s echoed through the ages, one that our sages grappled with deeply. Let’s delve into a fascinating teaching from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic inter...

DanielProphecyHoly LandJudgment

Why God Gave Laws Immediately After the Ten Commandments

Shemot Rabbah 30:19

According to Rabbi Elazar, it's justice. That’s why, as Shemot Rabbah tells us, God gave us laws after the Ten Commandments. If justice is perverted, everything crumbles. God, in h...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsJoseph

Rabbi Yehoshua in Battle

Shemot Rabbah 30:20

But it's not just about some cosmic points system. It's about living a life that avoids pain and embraces blessing. Rabbi Yehoshua continues, "I cautioned you regarding all the mit...

Hell/GehennaSolomonMessiah

Shittim Faces Judgment

Shemot Rabbah 30:21

Shemot Rabbah 30 begins by stating that "the punishment that is prepared for the wicked is plentiful," drawing on the fiery imagery of (Psalms 11:6), "He will rain burning coal upo...

Hell/GehennaMosesKing DavidSolomon

God's Ordinances Give Life Unlike the Nations

Shemot Rabbah 30:22

It's not just about rules, it's about life itself. That's the powerful message we find in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The text op...

TorahProphecyHoly Land

The King's Might Is That He Loves Justice

Shemot Rabbah 30:23

The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), specifically Shemot Rabbah, dives right into this question with a powerful idea. It begins with the verse, "These are the ordinances...

MosesKing DavidTorahProphecy

Maintain Justice and Perform Charity Says Isaiah

Shemot Rabbah 30:24

The Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, dives deep into this question, particularly in section 30. It all starts with a verse from Isaiah...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaPatriarchs

Lending Money and the Hidden Cosmic Debt We Owe

Shemot Rabbah 31:1

And more importantly, there's a way out. The verse in Exodus (22:24) says, "If you lend money to My people, to the poor who is with you, you shall not be as a creditor to him; you ...

MosesKing DavidProphecyRepentance

The Three Pilgrimage Festivals and Their Deeper Meaning

Shemot Rabbah 31:2

Rabbi Abahu offers a powerful insight into this very question, drawing from the book of Exodus. "Three pilgrimage festivals you shall hold a festival to Me during the year" (Exodus...

MosesKing DavidSolomonJob

Job and Divine Judgment

Shemot Rabbah 31:3

Our tradition teaches that wealth, valor, and wisdom are not inherently good or bad – it's how we use them that truly matters. Shemot Rabbah (31) delves into this very question, dr...

Hell/GehennaCreaturesMosesKing David

Ovadya and the King

Shemot Rabbah 31:4

Jewish tradition teaches us that our actions, especially those involving money and compassion, carry immense weight. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of ra...

King DavidElijahTorahProphecy

Solomon's Prayer

Shemot Rabbah 31:5

to a passage from Shemot Rabbah (chapter 31) that grapples with this very issue. The passage begins by referencing the verse, "If you lend money to My people..." (Exodus 22:24). Bu...

HeavenAdam & EveKing DavidSolomon

The Dangers of Lending Money With Interest

Shemot Rabbah 31:6

to a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, and see how shockingly relevant it still is. We're talking about money, lending, an...

Adam & EveMosesKing DavidMessiah

Return a Borrowed Garment Before the Sun Sets

Shemot Rabbah 31:7

to a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, and see how it pulses with a very human heart. It's a passage all about lending, bo...

MosesRepentanceEgypt

Do Our Opinions of Judges Have Divine Consequences

Shemot Rabbah 31:8

One minute someone is a hero, the next... well, not so much. It's human nature. But what about those in positions of authority, like judges? Do our shifting opinions of them have c...

Hell/GehennaMosesHoly LandEgypt

The Newborn Animal Must Stay Seven Days With Its Mother

Shemot Rabbah 31:9

In this week's exploration, we turn to Shemot Rabbah 31, a beautiful midrash (rabbinic interpretation) on a seemingly simple verse in Exodus, to unpack this very idea. The verse in...

MosesProphecyHoly LandEgypt

Jeremiah — Messiah at the Dawn of Creation

Shemot Rabbah 31:10

That feeling, that fear, is something the Jewish people have grappled with throughout our history. And it's right there in Shemot Rabbah 31, a midrash on the book of Exodus. The pa...

CreationPatriarchsMosesTemple

Esau Among the Fathers

Shemot Rabbah 31:11

And Jewish tradition, as always, has some fascinating perspectives. The Book of Exodus, Shemot in Hebrew, is rich with laws and ethical guidelines. And within Shemot Rabbah, a clas...

PatriarchsSolomonProphecyHoly Land

Job in Solomon's Court

Shemot Rabbah 31:12

It’s not just about giving what you have, but about how you give it. In the book of Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a powerfu...

DemonsSolomonJobJudgment

How We Treat the Poor Reveals Who We Are

Shemot Rabbah 31:13

Jewish tradition has a powerful answer to that feeling, and it all revolves around how we treat the poor and vulnerable among us. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilie...

Adam & EveMosesKing DavidSolomon