Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 22:32/אבן עזרא על במדבר כ״ב:ל״ב
אכי ירט. הטעם עוות וכן על ידי רשעים ירטני שהוא מן רטה שאילו היה מן ירט היה ראוי להיות כמו יעטני ואם הם שני שרשים וכמוהו מעיל צדקה יעטני שהוא על משקל אשר יעצני כמו עוטה אור:
1BECAUSE THY WAY IS CONTRARY UNTO ME. The meaning of yarat (contrary) is perverse.103 The word yirteni (twists me) in And twists me by the hands of the wicked104 (Job 16:11), which comes from the root resh, tet, heh, is similar.105 comes from the root resh, tet, heh. If yirteni comes from the root yod, resh, tet, then it should be vocalized like ye’atani106 (He hath covered me) (Is. 61:10).107. Yarat and yirteni have similar meanings even though they come from two different roots.108 is yod, resh, tet and yirteni comes from resh, tet, heh. We find the same to be the case with the word ye’atani (Ibid.), which is vocalized like the word ye’atzani (given me counsel) (Ps. 16:7).109 comes from the root yod, ayin, tet. Ye’atani is similar in meaning to oteh (coverest)110. in (Who coverest Thyself with light) (Ps. 104:2).111