Peshat

Classic method of Jewish biblical exegesis

Peshat (also P'shat, פשט) is one of the two classic methods of Jewish biblical exegesis, the other being Derash. While Peshat is commonly defined as referring to the surface or literal (direct) meaning of a text, or "the plain literal meaning of the verse, the meaning which its author intended to convey",

Peshat is most often defined as "straight," in reference to its tendency to describe the meaning of the text apparent at face value, taking into account idiomatic expressions, and focusing mostly on literal interpretation. It is often considered the most straightforward method for reading and understanding of biblical text. In this way, Peshat differentiates itself from the other methods present in Pardes (Remez, Drash and Sod), which look at what may be hidden in the text. Peshat interpretations also note the importance of context, both historical and literary. In the Talmudic Era, this definition was expanded to mean "to propound." Generally, in sources from this period, the peshat interpretation of a passage is "the teaching recognized by the public as obviously authoritative, since familiar and traditional," or "the usual accepted traditional meaning as it was generally taught." In fact, the Talmudic rabbis only practiced a single method of interpretation. According to one understanding, peshat in early rabbinic sources is an synonym for verse (like mikra or katuv), i. e. "what is in the verse itself". Others say: According to the rabbis no question arises, for since the text has once been torn away from its ordinary meaning (פשוטו) it must in all respects so remain. Said Raba: Although throughout the Torah no text loses its ordinary meaning (פשוטו), here the gezerah shawah has come and entirely deprived the text of its ordinary meaning (פשוטו).

The common meaning of peshat likely originates with Rashi, who in his biblical commentary was the first to clearly distinguish between peshat and derash as the literal and homiletical meanings of a verse respectively. In contrast, Rashbam, felt that the early rabbis were not knowledgeable in Peshat, and instead used other strategies. As Peshat's methods rely often on the importance of context, Rabbi Eliezer's commentaries are known for their tendency to focus on the context of a given verse or text. His commentaries are integrated with text, rather than sitting separate from them, and he insists on ensuring that no verse loses its context during his discussions, in comparison to other methods, such as the "verse by verse approach of Rashi" Additionally, Kimhi lived among many famed proponents of Derash, such as Rabbi Moses the Preacher, who "undoubtedly had a substantial impact on Radak." The modern approach of "Tanach at Eye Level" led by Rabbi Yaakov Medan and Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun, and promoted by many of the rabbis and alumni of Yeshivat Har Etzion is an approach to studying Tanach which in essence follows in the footsteps of the Rashbam, Iben Ezra and Radak in sticking more closely to the Peshat and straightforward way of understanding the Bible.