Pardes (Jewish exegesis)
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The Pardes typology describes four different approaches to Biblical exegesis in rabbinic Judaism. The name, sometimes also spelled PaRDeS is an acronym for the four approaches:
- Pshat (פְּשָׁט) — the "simple meaning" of a verse or passage [1]
- Remez (רֶמֶז) — "hints" of a deeper meaning beyond just the literal words
- Drash (דְּרַשׁ) — "interpretation"; unraveling midrashic meaning by comparing words and forms in the passage to similar occurrences elsewhere
- Sod (סוֹד) — the "secret" or mystical meaning of a passage, as given through inspiration or revelation
Each type of Pardes interpretation examines the deeper meaning of a text. As a general rule, the deeper meaning never contradicts the base meaning. The Pshat means the literal interpretation. Remez is the allegorical meaning. Drash includes the homiletic or halakhic meaning and Sod represents the deeper hidden meaning.
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[edit] Association with Paradise
The Pardes system is often regarded as mystically linked to the word pardes (Hebrew פָּרְדֵּס), meaning orchard. "Pardes" is the origin of the word "paradise", and probably originally from Persian. It occurs only three times in the Tanakh, namely, in Song of Solomon 4:13, Eccl. 2:5, and Neh. 2:8. In the first of these passages it means "garden"; in the second and third, "park." In the apocalypses and in the Talmud the word is used of the Garden of Eden and its heavenly prototype.[1] From this usage, comes Christianity's denotation of Paradise as the abode of the blessed.[2][3]
[edit] References
- ^ Compare references in Weber's "Jüdische Theologie," 2d ed., 1897, pp. 344 et seq.
- ^ Compare Luke 23:43; II Cor. 12:4; Rev2:7..
- ^ Paradise in the Jewish Encyclopedia
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] Jewish Encyclopedia links
- Homiletics
- Aqiva ben-Asher's Alphabet
- Biblical Exegesis (see esp. section on Pardes)
- Mekhilta
- Miðrash Halakha
- Talmud
[edit] Other links
- Lamed Academy discussion on PaRDeS
- some christian page that talks about PaRDeS
- Pardes+Exegesis google searchde:PaRDeS
it:Pardes he:פרדס_(יהדות)
