Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 19:3/אבן עזרא על ויקרא י״ט:ג׳
אוכבר אמרתי לך בפרשת ואלה המשפטים שכל מצוה ומצוה עומדת בפני עצמה לכן יש כדמות סמך להדביק הפסוקים. והנה פרשת קדושים תחלתו איש אמו ואביו תיראו והנה אמר כי יאריכון ימי המכבד אם כן יקצרון ימי המקלה על כן אמר תיראו וטעם להזכיר האם קודם האב כי הקטן איננו מכיר בתחלה כי אם אמו ואחר כן אביו ואחר כן שבת כי מצוה על הקטן לשמור את השבת ואין ככה שאר המועדים ואחר כן יכיר אלהיו ששבת ביום השביעי ואחריו אל תפנו אל האלילים ומורא האבות ידוע מהקבלה. ואמר איש פעם אחת דרך קצרה. ואמר תיראו לשון רבים כי חייבים הרואים ללמדו ולהכריחו וכן בשמירת שבת:
1AND YE SHALL KEEP MY SABBATHS. This parallels Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy (Ex. 20:8). Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father is similar to Honor thy father and thy mother (Ex. 20:12). Neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor (v. 16) is likewise the same as the statement Thou shalt not murder (Ex. 20:13). The law regarding the bondmaid designated for a man (v. 20) is parallel to Thou shalt not commit adultery (Ex. 20:13 with a free woman. Similarly, Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another (v. 11); Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbor (v. 13) are parallel to the three remaining statements.4 is parallel to Thou shalt not steal (Ex. 20:13). Neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another is parallel to Thou shalt not bear false witness (Ibid.). Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbor is parallel to Thou shalt not covet (Ex. 20:14). I have previously told you in my comments on the Torah portion Ve-Elleh Ha-Mishpatim (now these are the ordinances) (Ex. 21:1) that each and every precept stands by itself.5 However,6 (literally, therefore). However, I.E. occasionally uses the term lakhen in the sense of however (Filwarg). It is also possible that we should read akeh rather than lakhen. there is some support for connecting the verses.7 Note, the section that opens with the words Ye shall be holy (v. 2) begins with Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father (v. 3). Now Scripture tells us that the years of the one who honors his parents will be long (Ex. 20:12). This implies that the days of one who disrespects his parents will be shortened. Scripture therefore says, Ye shall fear.8. The implication is that one who disrespects his parents will suffer premature death. According to I.E. the meaning of Ye shall fear every man his mother, and father is, be afraid of disrespecting your parents, for if you dishonor them you will suffer dire consequences. Our verse is thus parallel to Ex. 20:12. The reason Scripture mentions the mother before the father is that a child first recognizes only its mother.9 Then it recognizes its father. The Torah next mentions the Sabbath because, unlike all the other festivals, a child is commanded to keep the Sabbath.10 The child shall then recognize his God who rested on the seventh day.11. I.E. speaks of a progression. The child learns to recognize its mother, then its father, and then God. Scripture next mentions, Turn ye not unto the idols (v. 4). We know from tradition what Scripture means by fearing parents.12 fearing one’s father refers to sitting in his place, speaking in his turn, and contradicting him. See Sifra on this verse. Our verse employs the word ish (every man) once13. See Lev. 17:3,10,13; Lev. 15:2. because it wants to be brief. Scripture employs the plural tira’u (ye shall fear)14 is in the singular. Thus the verb governing it should be in the singular. Hence I.E.’s comment. because those who observe the child have to teach him and force him to fear his parents. It is the same case regarding Sabbath observance.15
בוטעם אני ה׳ אלהיכם. שתעשו כמוני ששבתתי מכל מלאכה:
2The meaning of I am the Lord your God is, act as I did, for I rested from all work on the Sabbath.